Shropshire What's On October 2023

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands

Shropshire

What’sOn

inside:

CHOC-TASTIC!

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory visits the Midlands

BUMPER BUFFY

Vampire Slayer tribute show stops off in the region

SPOOK-TACULAR Halloween events to keep the kids entertained this month

family

special

musicals

ALL STAR SUPERSLAM WRESTLING

Fri 13 Oct @ 7.30pm

comedy

TERRY DEARY'S TWISTED TALES

Mon 30 Oct @ 6.30pm

comedy

MUM’S THE WORD

Thurs 9 Nov @ 7.30pm

THE

Thurs 12 Oct @ 7.30pm

family

JEKYLL AND HYDE

Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Oct @ 7.30pm (2.30pm matinee Sat)

drama

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

Thurs 2 Nov @ 2.00pm

comedy

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?

Wed 8 Nov @ 7.30pm

dance

JOHN ROBINS - HOWL

Wed 15 Nov @ 7.30pm

CROWN BALLET PERFORMING SWAN LAKE

Thurs 23 Nov @ 7.30pm

MIRACLE MAN: AN AUDIENCE WITH IAN HUTCHINSON AND JAMES WHITHAM

News from around the region

Major investment set to revitalise Telford Theatre

Telford & Wrekin Council has unveiled ambitious plans to revitalise Telford Theatre. Made possible by a £15.5million grant from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, the transformation of the venue is being seen as a pivotal moment in the council’s commitment to creating ‘a modern cultural hub that will inspire creativity, engage communities and boost the local economy’. To find out more about the plans for the theatre, visit telfordtownsfund.co.uk

Winter steam magic at Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) is hosting a Winter Steam Gala early next year. Taking place on Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 January, the event will see at least five steam locomotives in operation.

Commenting on the news, Lewis Maddox, SVR’s visitor engagement manager, said: “There are many people with a keen interest in seeing steam no matter what the season, and there can be nothing finer than the sight of a locomotive running on a crisp winter day.”

Tickets for the gala are now on sale at svr.co.uk

Dinosaurs in concert...

The 30th anniversary of blockbuster movie Jurassic Park is being celebrated this autumn with a special tour.

Jurassic Park In Concert sees the film being screened while the Hallé Orchestra present a live rendition of its classic John Williams score. The production stops off at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Saturday 21 October. To find out more and book tickets, visit resortsworldarena.co.uk

Bakers’ delight as popular event returns to the NEC

Global cake-decorating showcase Cake International returns to Birmingham’s NEC next month.

Running at the venue from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 November, the show features competition pieces, lifesize installations and live demonstrations by cake artists from around the world. To find out more, visit cakeinternational.co.uk

Hauntings aplenty at Stafford’s Gatehouse

Halloween comes a couple of days early at Stafford Gatehouse this month, courtesy of three spinetingling supernatural tales. The stories are told in Hauntings, a show that’s visiting the venue on Saturday 28 October.

Starring award-winning actor Gerard Logan, the production features MR James’ Oh, Whistle And I’ll Come To You, My Lad and EF Benson’s Naboth’s Vineyard and The Hanging Of Alfred Wadham. For more information and to book tickets, visit gatehousetheatre.co.uk

Photographic exhibition at English Heritage property

A disused visitor admissions hut at English Heritage’s Haughmond Abbey in Uffington, Shropshire, has become an unlikely venue for a photography exhibition.

The images on display, created by English Heritage’s photography volunteers, celebrate the variety and diversity of the charity’s freeto-enter properties.

The exhibition is available to view until Tuesday 31 October.

Haughmond Abbey is open seven days a week, but do check the venue’s English Heritage website before travelling.

Garrick launches youth membership scheme

Lichfield Garrick Theatre has launched a brand-new youth membership scheme. Titled Young Garrick, the initiative is designed exclusively for people aged 14 to 25 who are looking to ‘dive into the thrilling world of drama, creativity and behind-thescenes magic’. For further information about the scheme, visit lichfieldgarrick.com

Trainspotting’s sequel adapted for the stage

A stage adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Pornothe sequel to the author’s award-winning novel, Trainspotting - is stopping off at Crewe Lyceum prior to a West End run. The production visits the venue on Friday 6 October. For further information and to book tickets, visit crewelyceum.co.uk

Cinderella set to have a ball at Walsall Arena

A pantomime production of Cinderella is coming to Walsall Arena this Christmas. The magical rags-to-riches tale can be enjoyed at the venue from Saturday 9 to Saturday 23 December. Tickets are available to purchase at walsallarena.com

From Strictly to Madagascar!

Hit family show Madagascar

The Musical is visiting the Regent Theatre in Stoke-onTrent next spring.

Showing at the venue from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 May, the touring production will see television presenter and Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual take on the role of King Julien. For further information and to book tickets, visit the website atgtickets.com/stoke

Texas announce 2024 arena tour

Scottish rock band Texas will perform at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena next autumn as part of a UK tour.

Taking place on Friday 13 September, the show will see the band play a set of classic hits from their recently released album, The Very Best Of 1989 - 2023.

For further information and to purchase tickets, visit utilitaarenabham.co.uk

New epic-scale drone show set to light up the sky

An ‘epic scale’ theatrical event for all the family to enjoy will light up the sky above Wolverhampton on Thursday 14 December. Taking place at Wolverhampton Racecourse, Dunstall Park, new drone light show Evolution will provide its audience with the chance to

Abbey date for Kiki & Carmelo

Singer Kiki Dee and guitarist Carmelo Luggeri are stopping off at Shrewsbury Abbey this month as part of their latest acoustic tour. Kiki and Carmelo have been performing together for nearly 30 years and bring their Long Ride Home show to the venue on Saturday 28 October. To find out more and book tickets, visit shrewsburyabbey.com

‘watch the universe unfold, from the humble beginnings of single-cell organisms to the aweinspiring reign of the dinosaurs’. To find out more about the event, visit the website yuup.co/evolution

A right royal show at Theatre Severn

Shropshire Drama Company is celebrating the King’s 75th birthday by taking a show about the monarchy out on tour. Titled 42 Crowns, the production is a ‘wry and quirky observation of the activities of our kings and queens during the reign of various regal houses’.

The show is delivered through a combination of rhyming verse, songs, readings and poetry. It visits Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn on Saturday 21 October.

Strange tale of the occult coming to Stourbridge

A strange tale of the occult is visiting Stourbridge Town Hall and Birmingham Back To Backs for Halloween.

Casting The Runes - a short story written by ‘master of the supernatural’ MR James and first published in 1911 - will be presented by NeuNoir theatre company.

The show visits Stourbridge on Saturday 28 October and Birmingham the following night. For tickets and further information, visit neunoir.wordpress.com

Tennis Podcast comes to The Shrewsbury Club

The Tennis Podcast - the sport’s mostlistened-to podcast, with more than 20 million downloads from over 100 countriesis heading to Shrewsbury this month. The podcast’s team of BBC Radio commentator David Law, TV presenter Catherine Whitaker and podcaster Matt Roberts will host a live version of the show on Wednesday 18 October during the ITF World Tennis Tour tournament at The Shrewsbury Club. For more information and tickets, visit ticketsource.co.uk

Taking a trip down the Black history timeline

Midlands theatre-goers are this month being invited to take a trip ‘down the Black history timeline’, courtesy of a family-friendly production entitled History In The Making (Birmingham Hippodrome, Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 October).

Presented through drama, spoken word, dance and music performances, the show highlights ‘notable historical figures, traditional African culture, Caribbean influences and Black British impacts on society, past, present and future’. For further information and to book tickets, visit birminghamhippodrome.com

Aladdin to bring Disney magic to Birmingham in 2024

West End & Broadway hit Aladdin is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome in 2024 as part of its first-ever UK & Ireland tour. Based on Disney’s classic 1992 animated film, the show stops off at the venue from Wednesday 9 October to Sunday 3 November. As well as featuring the movie’s original songs, the production also includes new music by eight-time Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken.

Remember remember the fifth of November...

Weston Park is hosting a bonfire & fireworks night this November the 5th (it’s a Sunday). The historic parkland on the ShropshireStaffordshire border will be putting on ‘two dazzling firework displays across the evening and one giant roaring bonfire’. A traditional funfair further adds to the fun. The first firework display will take place at 6pm, the second at 7.30pm. Visit weston-park.com for further details.

Hot gypsy jazz magic as Django Fest returns

Shrewsbury’s ever-popular Django Fest is back mid-month.

Featuring ‘the very best in gypsy jazz’ and celebrating ‘all things Django Reinhardt and his musical legacy’, the event takes place across various venues from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October.

For more information and to book tickets, visit shrewsburydjangofest.co.uk

The hugely popular show continues its record-breaking run on Broadway. Since opening there in 2014, nine subsequent productions have launched around the world, including the West End version, which has racked up in excess of 1,200 performances. To find out more about Aladdin’s autumn 2024 visit to Birmingham, and to book tickets, go to birminghamhippodrome.com

Winter delights at the BBC Good Food Show

The BBC Good Food Show Winter returns to Birmingham’s NEC for ‘four fabulous foodfilled days’ next month.

Running from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 November, the show’s line-up of entertainment includes appearances by celebrity chefs James Martin, Nadiya Hussain (pictured), Michel Roux and Jane Dunn of Jane’s Patisserie. Further information about the event is available by visiting bbcgoodfoodshow.com/winter, where you can also purchase tickets.

News from around the region

Special delivery at Black Country Living Museum

To celebrate the opening of the Black Country Living Museum’s (BCLM) replica of Wolverhampton’s Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre, set in 1961, the venue is this month inviting 75 local babies born in 2023 to a special preview event (on Thursday 12 October). BCLM has chosen the number 75 because 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the NHS and the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush.

Tom Fletcher’s books leaping from page to stage

Author Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures are leaping from page to stage next month, as his critically acclaimed Who’s In Your Book? series makes its debut as a brand-new musical.

Titled There’s A Monster In Your Show, the production visits the following Midlands venues: Halesowen Town Hall, Thursday 23 November; Birmingham Town Hall, Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 April and Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Friday 3 & Saturday 4 May.

Simply Red heading for Birmingham in 2025

Iconic soul & pop band Simply Red will visit Birmingham in two years’ time as part of a UK tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Mick Hucknall and the boys will play the city’s Utilita Arena on Saturday 4 October 2025. For further information and tickets, visit utilitaarenabham.co.uk

Comedian and fishing enthusiast Paul Whitehouse will be hoping to reel ’em inaudience members, that is - when he visits the Midlands next month with a brand-new show.

Paul, who appears alongside fellow comedian and fisherman Bob Mortimer in

Wolverhampton venue unveils new folk season

Wolverhampton’s Newhampton Arts Centre is this month launching its autumn season of folk music. The programme begins on Saturday 14 October with a performance by ‘harmonious trio’ Ward Knutur Townes.

Later-season concerts see James Delarre teaming up with Saul Rose (pictured) and Jackie Oates performing with John Spiers. For further information and to book tickets for the shows, visit newhamptonarts.co.uk

Catherine Tyldesley to star in Bonnie & Clyde

Coronation Street and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Catherine Tyldesley will make her musical theatre debut when she stars in award-winning show Bonnie & Clyde at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Birmingham Hippodrome next year. Catherine will take the role of Blanche Barrow in the hit production, which visits the Grand in the spring (Tuesday 5Saturday 9 March) and the Hippodrome next autumn (Tuesday 3 - Saturday 7 September).

the BBC’s popular angling programme, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, will stop off at Birmingham Town Hall on Sunday 12 November with How We Fish, a show he’s presenting alongside John Bailey, a consultant on Gone Fishing... For more information and tickets, visit bmusic.co.uk

National Lottery supports wellbeing in Shropshire

Shrewsbury yoga studio Jenna Blair Yoga has been awarded a grant of nearly £10,000 by The National Lottery Community Fund to provide a series of classes and workshops for communities across Shropshire. The funding will provide access to yoga and other activities that support wellbeing. Classes are being offered to local charities, schools, NHS staff and others, with studio owner Jenna urging communities to get in touch if they feel they could benefit from getting involved. To find out more, visit jennablairyoga.co.uk

Strictly back on the road

Dust off those scoring paddles and get your dancing shoes ready - the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour is making a return in January.

Kickstarting with five shows at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena (Friday 19Sunday 21 January), the show will see Strictly legends Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood taking the judging seats, with Janette Manrara back as the host. To find out more and book tickets, visit utilitaarenabham.co.uk

Fishing-mad Paul Whitehouse hoping to reel ’em in!

FORBIDDEN LOVE

Sir Matthew Bourne’s Romeo + Juliet garnered great critical acclaim when it premiered in 2019, with many hailing it his finest work. This month, his reimagining of Shakespeare’s iconic romance visits Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Local dancer Harry Ondrak-Wright is one of the super-talented performers charged with bringing the timeless tale to life. We recently caught up with Harry to find out what it’s like to be part of Sir Matthew’s New Adventures company...

When Harry Ondrak-Wright takes to the stage at the Grand Theatre in Sir Matthew Bourne’s Romeo + Juliet this month, it will be what the young Wolverhampton dancer terms ‘a pinch-me moment’. Or, to put it another way, a dream come true.

Harry, now 26, was a student at Wolverhampton’s Coppice Performing Arts School when he first discovered Sir Matthew’s work, studying his shows for both GCSE and A-level. And when Harry saw Matthew’s company, New Adventures, perform Swan Lake, he knew it was the ensemble for him.

“I watched Swan Lake at Birmingham Hippodrome, and that show - the musicality, the sheer power of the dance on stage and the storytelling elements - was incredible. I walked out and thought ‘That’s what I want to do.’”

Harry was given the rare opportunity to perform alongside New Adventures when the company staged Lord Of The Flies in 2014 and auditioned young dance students to join the cast.

“I remember going to the audition at the Patrick Centre at Birmingham Hippodrome and then being offered a place. That was my first experience of dancing with New Adventures. They were already a company I aspired to be part of, but at that point I didn’t imagine I would be dancing with them. It was an amazing experience. To work alongside professionals was so fantastic.”

Harry went on to study at London Contemporary Dance School - and worked hard to achieve his dream.

“I was in contact with New Adventures as much as possible. Once I’d decided that was what I wanted to do, I did everything in my power to work with the company. So over the years, I did workshops and warm-up classes.

“I was lucky enough to be involved with a company called Shoreditch Youth Dance, run by Lee Smikle, who used to be part of New Adventures, so through that I did small projects that were loosely involved with New Adventures.

“We did the New Adventures Choreographer Award, which Jamaal Burkmar won that year.

We did a piece with Jamaal, and afterwards Matthew came and found me in the foyer of the theatre. He told me he had his eye on me for the next project - which ended up being Swan Lake. That was a really poignant moment.”

In 2018, Harry gained a position with Matthew’s company and in an upcoming tour of Swan Lake.

“I was really blown away when I was offered a place. I remember I was in morning class, and we were just warming up when I got a notification on my phone. It was an email from Matthew Bourne, and I didn’t open it because I was so nervous. If it was a good verdict, I wouldn’t be able to contain my excitement, and if it was a bad verdict, I would be quite upset. So I just continued with an hour’s class and then took myself into a corner and looked at my phone and saw the email - and that’s when I found out I’d got into Swan Lake.”

The tour took in Birmingham - putting Harry on the stage where he had first seen Swan Lake. “It was amazing being at the Hippodrome. There have been a lot of ‘pinch me’ moments with this company, and that was definitely one of them. I remember thinking ‘I saw this show on this stage, and that inspired me to want to dance, and now here I am doing it.’ It didn’t feel real, in a sense. It was such a fantastic feeling.” Harry’s next ‘pinch me’ moment will be performing Romeo + Juliet on stage in his home city this month.

“I’m so excited to be going to Wolverhampton Grand. Romeo + Juliet is a show that I really love and have a lot of passion for, so to be bringing it to my home town is really exciting - and especially as it’s the first time that New Adventures has been to Wolverhampton. I’m sure my family members are excited as welland it coincides with my mum’s birthday!”

Harry plays a number of characters in the show, including Mercutio, Edmund - and a new non-binary character named Lennox. “We rotate between casts, meaning everyone learns multiple roles so everyone has to know the show a number of times over. The new character, Lennox, is one of the ensemble

characters and they’re the first non-binary character in New Adventures. It’s been created by one of the company, and they’re also non-binary, so it’s very personal to them and their journey. It’s really nice to take that on board and represent it through the show.” The production, which is based on Shakespeare’s classic love story and set to Prokofiev’s famous score, is one of Harry’s favourites.

“It’s so unique. It has its own way of telling the story. Matthew likes to refer to it as a Romeo & Juliet-esque story. It doesn’t follow the story of Romeo & Juliet as a linear kind of subject; it’s more loosely based on the tragedy.

“It has characters like Mercutio, and all of those elements are the same, but it’s set in a near-future, within an androgynous institute, and it’s not clear why these people are there; whether it’s an experiment or a prison. Aesthetically and thematically it’s very intense and beautiful.

“It’s also really fulfilling and cathartic to play. It’s a tragedy, so you go through these very intense emotions every night. It’s really beautiful to bring to audiences, who respond fantastically.

“It’s an amazing show, a real rollercoaster of emotion. Audiences will get to see some beautiful dancing and some really heartfelt acting. I don’t think there are many people who have come to see this show who haven’t had a visceral response to it.”

Despite having been part of New Adventures for five years, Harry still has trouble believing that his dream has actually come true.

“I feel so lucky to be working for a company where the audiences are so loyal and love it so much. There aren’t that many companies who sell out their shows every night, and you do feel the energy from a full audience. It’s something that I feel really fortunate to get almost every day.”

Matthew Bourne’s Romeo + Juliet shows at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 October.

Food news from across the region...

Wild Pickle Ferment Festival makes debut

The first Wild Pickle Ferment Festival is taking place at Fenton Town Hall in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday 28 October. The event features plenty of fermented food & drink, live music, kids’ activities, fermentation workshops, stalls, urban foraging and more. Tickets cost £10 and are available at wildpicklefermentfestival.co.uk

Hello Tacos opens in Mander Centre

New restaurant Hello Tacos has opened in Wolverhampton’s Mander Centre. Serving up ‘authentic French tacos’, the venue invites customers to ‘build their own’ by selecting base, filling and sauce. Filling options include chicken nuggets, marinated chicken, halloumi, falafel, kebab meat and chicken tenders. Feeling hungry? Why not order the XL and enjoy three of the above fillings.

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Luna Springs

It’s time to dust off your lederhosenOktoberfest celebrations are returning to Luna Springs in Birmingham’s Digbeth district this month!

Brunch events will feature Bavarian decor, an oompah band, 90 minutes of bottomless booze and an Oktoberfestthemed dish.

The brunches are being held on Saturday 7 & Saturday 14 October and will take place in a heated marquee, meaning that you can celebrate in style, whatever the weather.

This year’s Shropshire Oktoberfest takes place in Shrewsbury’s Quarry Park on Friday 6 & Saturday 7 October.

The ever-popular event will once again be championing the region’s best breweries, cider makers, drinks producers and distilleries.

As well as the alcohol, the festival also includes a programme of entertainment, with a livemusic stage and comedy club both featuring.

Commenting on this year’s get-together, Beth

Mexican street-food restaurant opens in Shrewsbury

Award-winning Mexican street-food restaurant Plan Burrito has opened on 29 Castle Street in Shrewsbury.

Serving up burritos, tacos, nachos and churros, the venue’s opening times are Monday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday & Saturday 11am to 10pm and Sunday 11am to 9pm.

In a statement, Plan Burrito said: “After being disappointed at what the high street had to offer when it came to Tex-Mex food, we decided to create Plan Burrito, to bring the best flavours of Latin America whilst keeping true to the authentic experience that you would find in a traditional taqueria.

“Unlike similar brands, we promise not to charge you extra for the fillings that you want.”

returns

Heath, Director of Fun at Shropshire Festivals, the company organising the event, said: “As always, there will be no mainstream rubbish at Shropshire Oktoberfest!...

“Instead, you can buy your beers, ciders and spirits directly from the people who make it, soaking in their expertise as well as enjoying quality tipples.”

Tickets for the festival are available from shropshireoktoberfest.co.uk

Time to raise a glass as Shropshire Oktoberfest

THE DARK SIDE

Tom Chambers on starring in Torben Betts’ psychological thriller

Tom Chambers is a familiar television face, having appeared in Holby City, Casualty, Waterloo Road and Strictly Come Dancing (he won the Glitter Ball in 2008). Following a West End stint in Elf The Musical, he’s now touring the UK in a brand-new production: Torben Betts’ spinechilling ghost story, Murder In The Dark. What’s On caught up with Tom to chat about the show, which is visiting Birmingham’s The Alexandra in November...

What’s Murder In The Dark all about, Tom?

It's a ghost story surrounding a modern, dysfunctional family who are travelling back from a funeral and involved in a car crash on New Year's Eve. They're taken in by what seems like a nice old farmer’s wife. She offers them temporary salvage in her farm cottage, then all sorts of weird things start happening. The line is blurred between what's real and what's surreal, and the consequences of their past catching up with them in this eerie place. Things get scary because it's a psychological thriller, but at the same time you might be laughing because it's also unbearably comedic!

Who do you play in the show?

Danny Sierra, a somewhat washed-up pop star. He’s facing many demons and insecurities, as he fell from the perch and the trappings of fame. He was famous on both sides of the Atlantic some 20 years ago and has since fallen on harder times. His role is to try and make amends with his family, but he fails dramatically, as his efforts are either squashed or mixed up in what some would describe as paranormal activity. I don't want to give too much away, and we’ve been given strict instructions to ask all members of the audience to keep the two big plot twists a secret!

Have you worked with any of your castmates before?

I haven't, no, but that's always part of the fun of starting a new job - getting to know new people and sharing our creative resources. I always find it a fascinating discovery, witnessing what people are capable of. But of course I'm already very familiar with Susie Blake's work from Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV and all the other great things she's done.

Danny is a singer - and you're no stranger to musicals. Do you have any numbers in the show?

Yes, actually. Among the family party is Danny's brother, Will. They originally started out as a double act, playing in pubs and bars, before Danny took off and deserted him to ‘hit the big time’ with a teen pop band. And

so at one point the brothers sing together one of their most popular songs from 20 years ago - but then they’re interrupted by something peculiar!

Why do you think we all love a good murder-mystery?

I heard a very clever man on the radio describing how the human brain hasn't evolved over the last 10,000 years. Our bodies and everything around us have, but our brains can’t separate the difference between fact and fiction when it comes to imagination and storytelling and the effects it has on us. We live in a semi-constant state of anxiety... on the edge of adrenaline, while we wait for either something bad to happen or the possibility of being taken by surprise. So I think a good ghost story or murder-mystery exercises the senses that we’ve relied on for thousands of years to keep us alive as a species! And together, subconsciously perhaps, we enjoy problem-solving or raising our awareness. Plus, the moment someone starts telling ghost stories round the dinner table, it either puts the fear of god into you or your brain starts lighting up like rockets on a dark night! Either way, it’s exciting food for your brain!

Do you scare easily yourself?

Yes, I do. I tend not to gravitate towards scary things. Mystery, yes, but I'm certainly not someone who prefers horror movies, although I know millions of people do. It's probably because I've got older siblings who would either make me jump or fill my imagination with doubt! Fear is contagious, and so while it’s thrilling doing this play, it’s also a bit like you're experiencing and feeling it for real!

Was working in theatre always part of the plan?

I sort of grew up with theatre, but I wanted to get into television and film because, well, who wouldn't? But I love doing stage work. The magical thing about theatre is that when you sit there with a whole load of other people, it makes you realise you're not alone; we all share similar feelings and responses. People could be watching the dysfunctional

family in this play and thinking 'Hey, it's not just me,' or they'll look to their family or friends and be thinking 'That's definitely you,' in relation to what's happening on stage. Or it might just be that you enjoy the shared experience of a live performance. Live events are great because we’re a herd species, and it's really fulfilling and nourishing when you're watching something together.

You made your musical theatre debut in Top Hat. How was the experience?

I did shows for the National Youth Music Theatre and Edinburgh Festivals, and when I left drama school I did loads of theatre, but it was all profit-share and fringe stuff. But doing Top Hat after Strictly Come Dancing was my first-ever professional West End musical. It was both incredible and daunting. I was following in Fred Astaire's footsteps, and he's someone who's obviously very hard to replicate, so it was a huge challenge. It was also a great honour, because I was such a fan of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly back in the day. I suddenly had newfound respect for anyone who works in theatre because you have to be physically and mentally fit, like an athlete. You're doing eight shows a week, and it's all about structure and planning and scheduling and keeping yourself 100% ready with a very precise nutrition plan!

Which theatre jobs have you most enjoyed?

I did White Christmas in the West End and played both the Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby roles, which was really, really fun. Playing the grumpy dad in Elf The Musical was also a lot of fun. Doing Dial M For Murder on tour was another highlight. Top Hat was certainly the big one; a huge role and the show that really started my theatre career. I've been lucky because I've really enjoyed everything I've done since. And now with Murder In The Dark, I pray it continues!

Murder In The Dark shows at The Alexandra, Birmingham from Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 November

Classical music from across the region...

Ex Cathedra: Rachmaninoff 150: Vespers

Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 15 October

Ex Cathedra’s 53rd season is awash with celebrations and commemorations, beginning with this concert to mark the 150th anniversary of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s birth. Other occasions being acknowledged by the ensemble during the coming weeks and months include the 300th anniversary of Bach’s St John Passion, the 400th anniversary of William Byrd’s death, and the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F Kennedy.

BBC Philharmonic Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 20 October

Residing at the Corporation's Manchester home of Media City in Salford Quays, the BBC Philharmonic are no strangers to Stoke-on-Trent, regularly presenting Victoria Hall concert-goers with works from their impressive repertoire.

Dinara Klinton: International Piano Recital

St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Sun 22 October

Dinara Klinton is no stranger to Shrewsbury, having played in the Abbey last spring to help raise funds for Ukraine humanitarian relief. A Ukrainian herself, she combines her performing career with piano professor positions at the Royal College of Music and the Yehudi Menuhin School.

Dinara’s St Chad’s programme features compositions by Johannes Brahms and both Robert and Clara Schumann.

This latest presentation sees conductor Anna Handler (pictured) presiding over a performance of Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No4 and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. The soloist is pianist Steven Osborne.

Lichfield Chamber Music Weekend

The Hub@St Mary’s & Wade Street Church, Lichfield, Thurs 5 - Sun 8 October

Offering four days of high-quality classical musicmaking, the Lichfield Festival’s Chamber Music Weekend showcases international stars and talented young artists, music from the Baroque to the present day, and performances featuring, among other instruments, harp, saxophone and piano. Performers include the Carducci Quartet (pictured), Ryan Corbett (accordion), Joo Yeon Sir (violin) and the Britten Oboe Quartet with Nicholas Daniel.

The choir will also be paying tribute to legendary composer Burt Bacharach, who died earlier this year.

“Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil is his most-loved work,” says Ex Cathedra founder & conductor Jeffrey Skidmore (pictured) in talking about this opening concert. “Recent discoveries from the original 1915 poster inform our performance, and bells - so dear to Rachmaninoff and Russian Christian culture - will sound the chants between movements.”

Lang Lang plays the Goldberg Variations

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 27 October

“I’ve moved into new terrain with the Goldberg Variations and really immersed myself fully in this project,” says talented Chinese pianist Lang Lang of his forthcoming Birmingham concert. “I’ve been studying this piece for more than 20 years, and recording it has been a lifelong dream.”

Gigs

Live music from across the region...

The Hayley Griffiths Band

The Robin, Bilston, Sun 29 October

Heavy rock anthems, beautiful Celtic ballads, virtuoso musicianship and no small amount of glamour feature among the mouthwatering ingredients of a Hayley Griffiths Band concert. A former Riverdance and Lord Of The Dance singer, ex-Karnataka lead Hayley scored a major hit with debut offering Silver Screen, which won the Classical Crossover Album of the Year award in 2010... She’s visiting the Black Country this month with her currently touring show, Metamorphosis.

The Clause

Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Fri 13 October

Birmingham four-piece The Clause, who’ve been jamming together since they were kids, describe their sound as a combination of 1960s swagger, the rolling groove of the 1980s and the riotous verve and attitude of the 1990s. Huge hooks with gritty verses, indie sensibilities and rhythm’n’blues groove & melodies are very much the name of their game, all wrapped up with an impressive energy and a clearly evident enthusiasm for the business of performing live.

Royal Blood

The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton, Thurs 26 October

“No-one saw the years of us playing in loads of bands to no-one,” says Mike Kerr, one half of rock duo Royal Blood (the other member being Ben Thatcher). “That all gets swept under the carpet because the other story is magical and much more wondrous.

Wheatus

The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 13 October Wheatus have found themselves somewhat unexpectedly back in the limelight in recent times, thanks to their year-2000 debut single, Teenage Dirtbag, gaining publicity via TikTok.

The video hosting service’s ‘Teenage Dirtbag photos’ trend has been embraced by more than a million people - among them celebrities including Madonna, Lady Gaga and Jon Bon Jovi - with the resulting hashtag being viewed over two billion times worldwide.

Not surprisingly, the New York rock band are making the most of the gratefully received publicity boost! They’re stopping off in the Potteries as part of a UK & Ireland tour.

Breabach

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 29 October With their talent for playing folk music matched only by their talent for winning awards for playing folk music, exuberant Scottish Highlands and Islands five-piece Breabach seamlessly fuse the contemporary

Luck is where passion meets opportunity. We got our golden ticket and walked out victorious. We were in the right place at the right time, and we have to remember to give ourselves the credit that we didn’t get into this position by winning a quiz show; we put in a serious amount of work. It’s taken us four albums to realise this isn’t luck; we’re good and we’re committed to this.”

with the traditional. Alongside the music there’s also the occasional sight of fiddle player Megan Henderson showing off some nifty footwork as she step-dances at a mesmerising pace.

Eddi Reader

Lichfield Garrick, Sun 1 October

With three Brit Awards decorating her mantelpiece, Scottish singersongwriter Eddi Reader is well remembered for her association with folk & soft rock band Fairground Attraction, with whom she scored a UK number one, Perfect, in 1988. Her solocareer highlights have included her 2003 album of material by Scotland’s ‘bard’, Robert Burns. The subsequent international resurgence of interest in Burns’ work saw Eddi awarded the MBE in 2006 for her outstanding contribution to the arts.

BEYOND SUPERVET

Best known from TV’s The Supervet, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick takes to the road with a brand-new stage show in which he explains how caring for animals can help us heal...

by James Rampton

In a tone that brooks no contradiction, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick - known to millions of TV viewers as The Supervetasserts: “Animals make us better people in every conceivable way. I don't think that we can always be our true selves with humans.”

Noel, who is the director and managing clinician at Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey, goes on to provide an example of this.

“Imagine you've had a hard day at work, where your boss has been awful to you all day. Then you come home from work, and the neighbour who keeps dumping his grass cuttings on your side of the fence has parked his car right in front of your door. You're pretty narked off.

“You don't like your neighbour - whose name is Bob - anyway, and now he's parked his car right in front of your door for the 14th time; you've been counting. The chances of you forgiving Bob at this moment are exactly zero.

“You open the door of your house and you see your new £100 Nike trainers, torn to pieces, that your new puppy has chewed up, and you forgive him in exactly one nanosecond when he bounds towards you and greets you. And that is what animals teach us about life. They teach us the power of forgiveness and love.

“It's a good example because we all know people we bear a grudge against, for whatever reason, because we're human. But animals unlock unconditional love within us. Even though Freddy has just chewed up your new £100 trainers, you don't care. But if a human did that... Oh, my goodness! You'd be livid, maybe forever.

“So, it is interesting. Animals uncork an ability within us to be ourselves and an ability to look beyond the facade that we put up for society every single day. They allow us to be ourselves, and therefore to be the best we can be.”

This is exactly the sort of story that Noel will be sharing in his live stage show, Beyond Supervet. Visiting the Midlands in November, Noel promises a show full of passion, poignancy and peerless humour; a show that offers loads of fun, as well as profound insights into what one of the world’s most acclaimed and beloved orthopaedic-neuro

veterinary surgeons has gleaned from the thousands of animals he’s treated throughout his career.

Reaching beyond the world of TV’s The Supervet, which has been running for 18 series on Channel Four, Noel examines how caring for animals really can benefit us all, and how modern medicine can have a massive effect on our lives.

Drawing on the vivid narrative of his many books, he will be engrossing audiences with stories, anecdotes, and a visionary look at the future, all recounted to a potent soundtrack which underscores the immense role music plays in his life.

The County Laois-born vet, who exudes charisma on stage thanks to years as a professional actor in shows such as London's Burning, Casualty, The Bill and Heartbeat (where he played - guess what? - a vet), reveals just how excited he is about hitting the road again. “I'm passionate about going on tour because there are so many things, hilariously funny and very sad and very real and very truthful, that I would like to share with everybody.”

In addition, Noel can't wait to engage with his wonderfully devoted fan base. “The main reason to do this is the connection with the audience. You can’t get that connection sitting on your own writing a book, but you can really bring the book to life on stage.”

Among the things Noel will be chatting about is his beloved dog Keira - who passed away in 2021. “She has basically taught me everything I know. I would be an empty vessel if she hadn't been there.

“She's very much responsible for the building of my practice because she was by my side through all 14 years of that dream. She saw me in my truest raw sense. The show is centred around a dozen or so lessons that I've learned along the way from Keira and other animals.”

On what he has learned from Keira, he says, “She has taught me humility, gratitude, and how to dream big. She very much inspired [the book] How Animals Make Us The Best We Can Be, which was about passion and thankfulness and openness and kindness and commitment and authenticity and creativity and, of course, love and hope.

The live show also sees Noel extolling the redemptive joy of his work: “I see love, hope and redemption every single day in my consulting room. For example, you've caught me now just after a very difficult conversation. This morning, I had to euthanise a dog that I couldn't save because it just wasn't ethically right to do so. His owners were weeping tears onto my shoulder.

“One of them was a big burly bloke, who really only let their guard down with me. When they’ve turned into a blithering wreck in my arms, their partner will often say to me ‘Oh, my God! Frank has never shown that kind of emotion before in his entire life!’

“I don't think it's my cuddle that makes every grown man cry! It's just that I'm supporting them while their best friend is in need - and that unlocks the raw childhood need to love and be loved that’s in all of us. That's a miraculous thing which hopefully I'll bring to the stage.”

Above all, in Beyond Supervet, Noel is keen to accentuate the positive. “I also talk about the tough times, because I think it's important that we reflect on the fact that everybody has challenges. We're going through a world of war at the moment, but it's vital to look at the joy and the goodness and the love in the world. Yes, I talk about the darkness a bit in the show, but as an example of how you can find light.”

So what does Noel hope audiences will take away from Beyond Supervet? “I want people to go out feeling that they've gained an insight into something that they didn’t expect - a truly uplifting experience where they’ll feel enriched and entertained.

“The show is a smorgasbord of visual, auditory and stimulatory delights. By coming along and feeling that unconditional love wash over you, I guarantee you will walk out feeling a million percent better than when you walked in.”

Beyond Supervet: Noet Fitzpatrick visits Crewe Lyceum on Friday 10 November; Dudley Town Hall on Saturday 11 November and Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry on Friday 17 November

Comedy previews from across the region...

Ed Byrne

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Fri 6 October; Lichfield Garrick, Wed 11 October; Regal, Evesham, Thurs 12 October; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 13 October; Walsall Arena, Sat 14 October; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wed 18 October; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 19 October; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Wed 15 November; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 14 December

A highly regarded master of observational comedy, Ed Byrne admits to being a little uncomfortable about some of the ‘more laddish’ material he used in the early days of his standup career.

“My comedy reflected my life at that timesingle and enjoying myself. Most of it was fairly harmless, but some of the stuff about an ex-girlfriend I can see was a bit angry, and I wouldn’t do it now.”

Ed is bringing his latest standup offering, Tragedy Plus Time - which sees him ‘mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs’to numerous Midlands venues in the final few months of the year. So does he enjoy touring the country?

“Apart from the travel involved, which no comic likes, I love it. You have people responding to something that you’ve written alone in your office, and the work comes alive in a roomful of people. I like the TV things I do, but nothing can beat a live comedy audience.”

Sophie McCartney

Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Thurs 12 October; Birmingham Town Hall, Thurs 19 October

Award-winning comedian Sophie McCartney has entered the perilous world of parenting and thinks it’s high time she told her audience all about it.

“Why did no one tell me what to really expect after I was expecting?” she questions. “Will my belly button ever go back to ‘normal’?

Jenny Eclair

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 1 October; Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 14 October; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 21 October

Compared to some of her peers, Jenny Eclair’s ascent up the greasy comedy pole to the ‘promised land’ of celebrity status was relatively slow.

Queer As Joke

The Loft, Birmingham, Mon 9 October

The city’s only LGBTQIA+ comedy night makes a welcome return as part of this year’s Birmingham Comedy Festival. Featuring a winning mix of new comedians and veteran acts, the show is hosted by Cycki Brokat, Ellen Degenerate and Gareth Williams. The ‘trio of misfits’ are promising that they’ll be ready, steady and raring to go with ‘charming stories, absolute nonsense and a skittle bomb or three’...

“I think I’ve made more public mistakes than most people, and suffered for them,” she observes. “Like being crap on stage. I was 22 when I started, and there are still producers working now who saw me then and wrote me off. It took years to change their minds.”

As Jenny has matured - she’s now 63 - she’s developed an appreciation of her womanhood that’s proved to be of real benefit to her comedy routine: “I think women get dirtier as they get older. The more your body lets you down, the more you have to find it funny. I just think bumholes and fannies are hilarious...

“The first joke my father told me was a fart gag, and I still find it funny.”

Why do you need a degree in collapsing travel cots? And do I have what it takes to stop my current cereal eaters from becoming future serial killers?”

These and many more questions will hopefully be answered in latest show Tired & Tested, during which Sophie makes her way through subjects including mating, birthing, body changes, school WhatsApp groups, overbearing nutjob love, and still not being able to handle her booze on a night out...

Angela Barnes

Old Rep, Birmingham, Sat 28 October

When Angela Barnes’ inspirational father died, it proved to be the catalyst for her to follow his advice - finally - and hurl herself into the rough, tough world of standup comedy...

And if her success so far is anything to go by, she certainly made the right decision. A BBC New Comedy Awards winner and selfconfessed BBC Radio Four nerd, Angela is this month visiting Birmingham with latest stream of consciousness Hot Mess, a show that’s garnered its fair share of plaudits both in Edinburgh and on tour.

Comedy previews from across the region...

Nabil Abdulrashid

Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 26 October; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sat 2 December

In 2010 and at the age of 25, Nabil Abdulrashid became the youngest-ever black comedian to perform standup at London’s Hammersmith Apollo when he entered the Which Religion Is Funniest? competition. He came out joint winner and was chosen to perform at the premiere of the Omid Djalili film The Infidel.

More recent times have seen him finishing fourth in the 2020 series of Britain’s Got Talent and appearing as a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef.

The London-born 38-year-old visits the Midlands this month with The Purple Pill, ‘a show about trying to be a good person while staying a badman’.

Davis

Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 6 October; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 20 October; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thurs 26 October; Victoria Hall, Stoke, Sat 2 March, 2024; Malvern Theatres, Sat 23 March; Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 11 May “I’ve always thought of myself as an underdog,” reveals Murder In Successville’s Tom Davis to beyondthejoke.com, “though not necessarily in a negative way. I think

Dan Nightingale

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 27 October

There’s precious little not to like about Dan Nightingale. At turns, he manages to be a bit of a tragic figure, a hugely endearing top chum, and a fella whose switched-on observations can be exceedingly funny and sometimes even a little bit profound. Sure, his choice of material could maybe be braver, but he’s nevertheless good value for money, and very much the kind of comedian you’d happily catch up with again and again.

Paul Foot

The Glee Club, Birmingham, Fri 13 October; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 14 October; Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Wed 15 May

Paul Foot’s routines involve him sharing with his audience the seemingly random and intriguingly surreal thoughts that make their way through his ever-busy mind...

By way of example, he told comedy.co.uk: “I’d like to do a TV show in which I enter an unsuspecting family’s house at dinner time, violently upturn tables, hurl all the crockery and food at the walls and scream ‘Oh how the tables have turned!’”

On that particular subject of television shows, Paul admits he doesn’t appear on anywhere near as many as some other comedians. “People know when a TV show needs me and the phone will ring. Quite often I’m in the bath, though, or smashing specially purchased greenhouses with a golf club in the garden.”

Comedy

that’s what has made me. The bulk of my humour comes from constantly feeling like someone who’s had a little bit of a kicking.” Having left school with no qualifications, Tom’s road to comedy success proved to be a long and winding one: “I’d been working on building sites for 20-odd years. I just wanted to do something for myself. I tried standup, and straight away I just thought “Wow! I feel like I’m actually quite good at something: making other people laugh.”

Victoria Melody

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Fri 6 October

Performance artist Victoria Melody’s decision to quit theatre in favour of becoming a standup comedian steered her down an interesting path. In an effort to become better at being funny, she took the unusual step of enlisting the assistance of speech & language specialists. It was a move which not only led to her discovering that she’s neurodivergent, but also provided her with plenty of material for currently touring standup show Head Set, the critically acclaimed 65-minute offering she’s bringing to Birmingham early this month.

Tom

Theatre

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory - The Musical

Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 17 October - Sun 5 November

Roald Dahl’s famous 1964 story follows the fortunes of 11-year-old Charlie Bucket, a young boy living in poverty who finds one of five golden tickets to Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. But there’s plenty more to candy-creating Willie’s magical world than Everlasting Gobstoppers and a Chocolate River - as Charlie and the

Annie

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 10 - Sat 14 October

Craig Revel Horwood is the latest high-profile performer to take on the coveted role of Miss Hannigan in this oft-touring musical. A heart-warming rags-to-riches story of a little girl who finds herself transported from a New York orphanage to the luxurious world of a millionaire, the show features plenty of memorable songs, including It’s The Hard Knock Life, I Don’t Need Anything But You, Easy Street, and the legendary Tomorrow. The role of Miss Hannigan will be taken by Jodie Prenger on Saturday the 14th.

Theatre previews from around the region

other golden ticket holders soon find out...

Combining memorable songs - The Candy Man, Pure Imaginationfrom the 1971 film version with all-new numbers from the multiaward-winning songwriters of Hairspray, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory visits Birmingham as part of its first-ever UK & Ireland tour.

of samba, salsa, and a flourish of tango. So this show is going to be a party for everyone!”

Sinatra The Musical

La Bamba!

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 3 - Sat 7 October

A new musical inspired by the life and legacy of rock & roll legend Ritchie Valens, La Bamba! follows the journey of 17-year-old Sofia as she looks to fulfill her dream of becoming a huge musical star.

The show sees dancer Pasha Kovalev make his musical theatre debut, with Siva Kaneswaran, from boyband The Wanted, also starring.

Pasha’s Strictly co-star, Graziano Di Prima, is responsible for the choreography.

“The dance in La Bamba! is a bit of everything,” says Graziano, “with the flavour

The Rep, Birmingham, until Sat 28 October Coming 25 years after Frank Sinatra’s death, Sinatra The Musical is the first production of its kind to explore the singer’s life both on and off stage. Produced by the Rep with an award-winning creative team and featuring more than 25 of Frank’s best-loved songs, the show focuses on his 1940s rise and fall, as his skyrocketing popularity is dramatically undermined by his headline-making affair with actress Ava Gardner...

Theatre previews from around the region

Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 30 October - Sat 4 November; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Mon 18 - Sat 23 March

A play about a play that goes wrong isn’t a new idea by any means, but it’s certainly a winning one, as the plaudits garnered by this cheeky little hit ably illustrate.

Indeed, one reviewer laughed so much that he feared he was going to hyperventilate; another admitted his funny bone had been well and truly struck by the piece; a third laughed and laughed until ‘tears ran down’. Having first introduced audiences to the Cornley Drama Society in the Olivier Awardwinning The Play That Goes Wrong, Mischief Theatre Company here let loose those selfsame comic creations on a production of JM Barrie’s children’s classic. The only trouble is, the bumbling thesps are more than a little accident-prone. So much so, in fact, that they’re not even sure they’ll manage to reach the curtain call, let alone Neverland...

Alan Turing: A Musical Biography

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thurs 5 - Sat 7 October

Alan Turing is nowadays considered to be a World War Two hero, having helped Britain defeat the Nazis by cracking the German’s now-famous Enigma code.

But Turing wasn’t always viewed in such a positive light. Indeed, in the aftermath of the war, he was persecuted for his homosexuality by the British government. He took his own life in 1954...

Using dialogue directly taken from historical letters that Alan wrote to his friends, colleagues and mother, this inventive dramatisation of his life played the Edinburgh Fringe to great critical acclaim.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 10 - Sat 14 October; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 23 - Sat 27 January

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie may have come from humble beginnings - it was inspired by a television documentary and premiered in Sheffield - but after only a matter of months it had transferred to the West End. Since then, the musical - which

follows a young man’s quest for acceptance on his journey to becoming a drag queenhas enjoyed blockbusting success, with numerous Olivier nominations and a wellreceived feature film testifying to its incredible popularity.

This latest tour sees Ivano Turco starring as Jamie and EastEnders actor John Partridge taking the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle.

Calendar Girls

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 3 - Sat 7 October; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 14 - Sat 18 November

Based on a true story originally dramatised in a star-studded 2003 film, Calendar Girls tells the terrific tale of a group of women who spark a global phenomenon when they decide to pose nude for a charity calendar. Tim Firth & Gary Barlow’s award-winning stage version of the hit movie stars Tanya Franks, Maureen Nolan, Lyn Paul, Amy Robbins, Paula Tappenden, Marti Webb and Honeysuckle Weeks.

Constant Companions

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tues 24 October - Sat 4 November

Mention Alan Ayckbourn and a list of brilliant observational comedies springs readily to mind, the most famous among which - think Relatively Speaking, Absurd Person Singular, The Norman Conquests, Bedroom Farce - were penned way back in the 1970s. But the 84-year-old has written plenty more plays besides, including this latest - and 89th - offering.

Premiering only last month, it contemplates the subject of true love in a world in which humans have turned to artificial friends for the experience of ‘companionship without compromise’.

As is often the case with his plays, Ayckbourn also takes the directorial reins.

Murder On The Nile

Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock, Wed 11 & Thurs 12 October

Kay Ridgeway has led a charmed life. Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth and a brandnew husband, she embarks on a honeymoon voyage down the Nile, little knowing that she is sailing towards shocking and brutal murder.

Under scrutiny are a multitude of passengers, all with good reason to kill. As the tension and sense of claustrophobia builds, a shocking and audacious conspiracy is laid bare...

Theatre previews from around the region

Twelve Angry Men

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Mon 30 October - Sat 4 November

Hollywood star Patrick Duffy heads the cast in this brand-new touring version of Reginald Rose’s gripping courtroom drama.

Best known from the 1957 film starring Henry Fonda, Twelve Angry Men tells the story of one juror’s battle to save the life of a man on trial for the murder of his father.

Initially a lone voice in the wilderness, Juror Eight is faced with the monumental challenge of persuading his eleven fellow jurors to spare the defendant’s life - a task made all the more difficult by the other men’s prejudices and preconceptions about the trial.

The production also stars Gray O’Brien (Coronation Street), Tristan Gemmill (Casualty, Coronation Street), Michael Greco (EastEnders), Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier) and Gary Webster (Minder).

Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing

Lichfield Garrick, Tues 17 October; Old Rep, Birmingham, Wed 18 October; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Sat 21 October

Taking one of the bard’s classic comedies and attempting to increase its laughter count, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is, as the performers themselves describe it, a classic combination of a hacked-to-bits Shakespeare script, half a dozen professional actors and a bucketload of booze.

The Sh!t-faced crew have been plying their trade to excellent effect since 2010, enjoying worldwide success with their winning combination of high-brow Elizabethan drama and no-holds-barred drunken antics and ‘rude stuff’. What’s more, they make the impressive promise that, ‘with a genuinely inebriated cast member each night, no two shows are ever the same’…

Cheeky Little Brown

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 24 - Sat 28 October

Papatango Prize-winning playwright Nkenna Akunna is the immense talent behind this

thought-provoking story about two Black women on diverging paths of self-love and acceptance.

“Cheeky Little Brown is an ode to your early 20s,” explains Nkenna, “a second coming of age, an aesthetically pleasing panic attack. It’s a story about a young woman’s resistance to change and ultimately her journey toward a new beginning.”

The play has been co-produced by the Belgrade with the Bristol Old Vic and British African heritage contemporary theatre company Tiata Fahodzi.

A Box Of Delights

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon, Tues 31 October - Sun 7 January

Opening on Halloween, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) festive family treat for 2023 is based on Poet Laureate John Masefield’s fantasy novel of the same name, first published in 1935.

The Box Of Delights follows the adventures of schoolboy Kay Harker, who, returning home for Christmas, finds himself unexpectedly entrusted with a small wooden box that has magical powers beyond his wildest dreams. But a ne’er-do-well wizard is after the box and will stop at nothing to get it, even threatening to cancel Christmas...

The RSC is promising theatre-goers a ‘fantastically festive’ production, with Justin Audibert taking the director’s chair. Justin’s previous work for the Company includes a critically acclaimed version of The Taming Of The Shrew back in 2019. The Box Of Delights is suitable for children aged seven-plus.

The Merchant Of Venice 1936

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Sat 10 February

Undoubtedly one of Shakespeare’s most difficult, complex and controversial works, The Merchant Of Venice follows the fortunes of the antisemitic Antonio, who bets on a venture that fails to repay and finds himself forced to borrow cash from Shylock, a Jewish money-lender whom he detests...

Relocated in time and place, the play is here set against a backdrop of London in 1936, as the threat of fascism grows on a daily basis and Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists plan a march through the Jewish East End.

Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who) stars as Shylock in a production which has garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Image

Theatre previews from around the region

Astley’s Astounding Adventures

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, until Sat 21 October

Astley’s Astounding Adventures first delighted audiences five years ago, to mark the 250th anniversary of the circus. It returns in 2023 to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Newcastle-under-Lyme - the location of the New Vic Theatre and the home town of Philip Astley, the international impresario who invented the circus.

This bold, colourful and critically acclaimed show is co-helmed by expert choreographer Vicki Dela Amedume and the New Vic’s artistic director, Theresa Heskins.

Crimes On Centre Court

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Tues 17 & Wed 18

October; Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 19 - Sat 21

October; The Roses, Tewkesbury, Tues 31 October

Poised and polished purveyors of mirth The New Old Friends make a welcome return with a show that serves up murder, mystery, mayhem - and tennis!

The chair of the Whombledun International tennis tournament has died, and his son is suspicious. Enter seriously silly sleuths Perry & Penny Pink, who’re hoping to solve the case with all the speed and efficiency of a Novak Djokovic forehand smash...

Highly regarded for their comic songwriting and happy to employ both puppetry and slapstick routines in the name of comedy, The New Old Friends serve another ace with this latest show.

The Full Monty

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 2 - Sat 7

October; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 30

January - Sat 3 February

When six men lose their jobs at the local steelworks, they find that dignity, hope and self-belief are suddenly in short supply. Until, that is, they take the plunge and become male strippers...

And Then There Were None

Malvern Theatres, Tues 24 - Sat 28 October

Having been invited to a privately owned remote island off the coast of Devon, a group of strangers find that their eccentric millionaire host has mysteriously disappeared.

Not long afterwards, one of the 10 strangers meets with an untimely demise... National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company director Lucy Bailey takes the helm for this latest version of Agatha Christie’s 1943 adaptation of her own 1939 novel - a book which she admitted had been her most difficult to write.

Cowbois

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon, Sat 14 October - Sat 18 November

“Cowbois is co-directed by me and Sean Holmes [associate artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe],” explains playwright Charlie Josephine in talking about Cowbois.

“It’s a big queer cowboy show full of everything you’d expect from a western. But our lone ranger is a gender outlaw who fights patriarchy and inspires a queer revolution.”

The lone ranger mentioned by Charlie is handsome bandit Jack Cannon, whose arrival in a sleepy, isolated, goldrush-era Wild West town bereft of men quickly puts the cat among the pigeons...

“My brain is fizzy and my body likes to move,” says Charlie, whose pronouns are they/them. “I’m proper passionate about making art that’s honest, visceral, sweatyand particularly stories that centre workingclass women and queer people.”

Cowbois is accompanied on Monday 23 October by a pre-show talk by the production’s creative team. A post-show talk takes place on Friday 3 November.

Tickets for these can be booked via rsc.org.uk

This touring stage production, based on the hit 1996 film of the same name, stars Danny Hatchard (EastEnders), Jake Quickenden (X Factor, Dancing On Ice) and Bill Ward (Coronation Street, Emmerdale).

Rehearsal image: credit Andrew Billington

HAPPY CHAPPY

Ore Oduba shares his delight at starring in hit musical Pretty Woman, which tours to the Midlands this month...

by Steve Adams

Fresh from a successful run in London’s West End, an all-new production of Pretty Woman: The Musical kicks off its first-ever UK tour in Birmingham this month. Former TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba tells What’s On why he’s a very happy man to be joining the cast as, er, Happy Man...

Based on the 1990 blockbuster movie that turned Julia Roberts into a superstar, Pretty Woman: The Musical has become quite a phenomenon in its own right, with recordbreaking runs on Broadway and in the West End, a US tour and performances in cities around the world.

Co-written by the film’s director, Garry Marshall - best-known as the man behind 1970s TV hits Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy - the show features original music and lyrics by pop superstar Bryan Adams and his long-term collaborator, Jim Vallance, and is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

The A-listers all bring their A-game to proceedings, according to Garry’s widow, Barbara, who claims the idea of putting the movie on stage was hers.

“I kept saying to him ‘You know, this could be a musical,’” she laughs, “and he’d say ‘Yeah, okay’, but nothing happened.”

It took another 15 years for her husband to start working on the script. Sadly, he died before his dream of having a show on Broadway was fulfilled, but Barbara is convinced he’d love the finished article. “He loved revisiting the story and transforming it into a musical, adding the songs and changing some of the structure. Had someone told him it would be such a hit around the world, he wouldn’t have believed it. Not only did it make it to Broadway, it’s bringing joy to so many people in so many other places.”

The next one of those places is Birmingham, where the refreshed show kicks off its first UK tour this month. It stars Amber Davies as Vivian Ward (the role made famous by Julia Roberts), Oliver Savile as Edward Lewis (played by Richard Gere in the movie) and Ore Oduba as Happy Man/Mr Thompson. The former TV presenter’s star has been in the ascendancy ever since he won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, which not only enabled viewers to see him in a new light but gave him the confidence to push his career in a new direction. He happily admits performing in the likes of Grease and The Rocky Horror Show has been a dream come true - a notion that ties in nicely with his latest character. “I can’t believe Strictly was seven years ago,” says Ore. “The memories are still so strong, even though life has carried on and there’s

been all these other roles since then. It’s interesting, because I guess Strictly was all about dreams, and what’s lovely about my role in Pretty Woman is that Happy Man is the narrator of the show and is all about dreams and magic - and if you buy into the magic, your dreams can become reality. I get to sell that every night.

“What was crazy about doing Strictly was that it was beyond my wildest dreams to be doing this professionally, but I remember being in that show and loving being on stage, thinking what an amazing thing it would be to get to do it every day.”

As much as it might seem a strange move for the former TV presenter (he helmed CBBC’s Newsround and regularly appeared on BBC Breakfast, among other programmes), there’s a link between what he does now and what he did as a youngster.

“ I guess the last four years working in musical theatre makes sense to me, even though it still blows my mind. It makes sense because when I was younger, I spent a lot of time on stage - I was in every school production. If I wasn’t playing sport, I was on stage singing or performing somewhere, so it’s wonderful that I’ve been able, 20 years down the track, to unlock something that was always a massive passion.”

It’s just as well it’s a passion, as the Pretty Woman tour lasts over a year. Ore’s only break - if you can call it that - will be to do pantomime over Christmas. At the moment he’s the excited puppy (“it’s such a wonderful experience to be thrown into a brand-new production, because it’s an explosion for the senses”), but he knows it’ll be hard work the longer it goes on, not least because he’s on stage for the bulk of the show.

He’s speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully as he tries not to explain.

“Happy Man is kind of ever-present, and then there’s a lovely moment when he becomes Mr Thompson. So I do play a couple - if not, multiple - roles; my guy pops up regularly. That’s just to give you a bit of a tease and not give too much away. But I’m there quite a lot!”

Ore’s especially excited about fuelling the audience’s imagination as Happy Man (“he’s in the heart of the show, as well as its message about living your dream”). He’s also clearly fired up for the big dance numbers.

“There are so many wonderful messages within the show, and my narrator part as Happy Man gets to relay all of that. But then there are also some fabulous dance numbers and really lovely song & dance momentsthis might be the biggest dance I’ve done since Strictly!”

Ore even has a link to the writer of much of the music, and not just because he’s a big fan of Bryan Adams.

“Funnily enough, I remember interviewing him on BBC One in 2015 because he was doing the New Year’s Eve fireworks show and I was hosting the programme. He was doing all his hits - Summer of 69, Run To You, and the rest. Fast forward eight years and I’m singing his songs!

“I’m really excited because he’s had such a successful career writing incredible songs. I remember watching Pretty Woman in London, and there are some really strong numbers in the show - absolute belters - and I think people are going to love that element of it, too.”

Ore got to see the musical just before the end of its London run earlier this year, but admits he dragged his feet on the original movie. “I’d never seen the film until last year. I have a thing about classic movies, in that I’m always playing catch-up with a lot of iconic titles. My issue is that if you missed it the first time around, everyone else has seen it, so it’s very rare that you can find someone else who’s in your boat. Every time you suggest ‘Maybe we could watch Pretty Woman’, everyone else goes ‘Seen it!’

“So I watched it for the first time quite recently, and then again prior to rehearsals, and it really got the tastebuds sizzling. I think what’s wonderful about the musical is that it’s a really gorgeous tribute to a film that people know and love. But whether you’ve seen the movie or not, it’s a big night out for everybody, and we guarantee you’re going to have a good time!”

Pretty Woman shows at The Alexandra, Birmingham, from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 28 October. The show then returns to the Midlands in 2024 to play the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 July

Theatre for younger audiences...

The Smeds & The Smoos

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tues 31 October & Wed 1 November

Another Tall Stories adaptation of a picture book by award-winning collaborators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Smeds And The Smoos tells the intergalactic tale of a young Smed and a young Smoo who fall hopelessly in love. Problem is... the redcoloured Smeds and the blue-coloured Smoos never mix, causing Romeo & Julietstyle complications for the star-crossed lovers...

Created for children aged three-plus, this theatrical presentation of Donaldson & Scheffler’s delightful space romance comes complete with a powerful but gently conveyed message about difference and tolerance.

Nest

The Rep, Birmingham, Sat 21 October

Taking a bird’s eye view of human beings and telling a tale about ‘discovering what’s important and learning how to fly’, Nest is a highly physical show that uses minimal language and combines imaginative clowning with beautiful shadow play and original song. The company behind the production is M6 Theatre, a well-established Rochdale-based ensemble whose stated aim is to produce stagework that ‘ignites the imagination, nurtures the heart and challenges the mind’. The show is suitable for children aged threeplus.

Thumbelina

Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, Tues 31 October

Born inside a flower, the ever-so-tiny Thumbelina finds herself living in an oversized world of woodland creatures - some of whom, she soon discovers, pose a significant threat to her safety...

This gentle and playful performance, ‘with the beauty of the natural world at its heart’, is suitable for children aged between three and eight.

The Singing Mermaid

Lichfield Garrick, Tues 31 October & Wed 1 November

Little Angel Theatre’s stage adaptation of the popular children’s book by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks visits Lichfield riding high on a wave of positive reviews. The story focuses on the adventures of the eponymous character after she is tempted away from the safety of the ocean to become part of a travelling circus. But although the circus audiences love her singing, it isn’t long before she realises that she’s been tricked by the dastardly circus master... Developed for children aged between three and eight, the show has a running time of 55 minutes.

The Amazing Bubble Man

Lichfield Garrick, Sat 28 October; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 29 October

Square bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, fogfilled bubbles, giant bubbles, bubble volcanoes and tornados - even people inside bubbles. Whatever kind of bubble floats your boat, it’s likely that the Amazing Bubble Man - aka Louis Pearl - will be able to provide it. Louis has been thrilling audiences worldwide with his mindbending bubble shows for more

than 30 years and is a surefire sellout whenever he appears at the Edinburgh Festival. Expect comedy, artistry, audience participation and more spellbinding bubble tricks than you could, er, blow a bubble at, when he stops off in the Midlands this month.

Tom Thumb

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Sun 22 October

The classic story of the terrifically tiny Tom Thumb here gets the always-imaginative Lyngo Theatre treatment - which on this occasion means a show that features feathery spinning birds, a flying house and a portable forest. Oh, and which also takes place entirely on and under a kitchen table!

There’s A Tiger In The Garden

The Brewhouse, Burton-upon-Trent, Sun 15 October

Lizzy Stewart’s award-winning children’s book is brought to life by the highly acclaimed Flock Theatre Makers, whose adaptation brings together puppetry, music and imaginative design. The 45-minute show - suitable for children aged three-plusfollows the adventures of a little girl named Nora as she discovers the wonders that lie beyond the shrubbery in the garden (which may or may not include a big stripey tiger!).

Light entertainment from around the region

Buffy Revamped

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Sat 28 October

Calling to mind the work of ensembles such as the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Buffy Revamped is a fast-paced new production that wings its way through all 144 episodes of hit 1990s television series Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Not only that, but it does so in an admirably concise 70 minutes.

The one-man production is presented by Brendan Murphy, whose central character of Spike is a fella who, as you might imagine, knows a thing or several about the now-cult US TV show... Buffy Revamped scored a big hit in Edinburgh, so if you’re a fan of the series yourself, a fun evening out is pretty much a guarantee.

Reverend Richard Coles

Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Fri 27 October; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 22 November; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Sat 2 December

Having concluded that the BBC’s decision to move its production of Radio Four’s Saturday Live to Cardiff meant that it was no longer viable for him to cohost the show, the Reverend Richard Coles is now cutting loose and hitting the road with a brand-new offering. And the former Communards star and onetime Strictly contestant certainly has plenty to chat about in the amusingly titled Borderline National Trinket - from sex and drugs, to pop stardom and religious epiphany...

Expect an evening of engaging storytelling from a witty and talented raconteur.

Showstopper!

The Improvised Musical

The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sat 7 October

If ever there was a show worth seeing more than once, this is it - and not only because it’s an Olivier Award winner.

Showstopper! is exactly what it says on the tin: a musical that’s improvised - meaning that no two nights are ever the same. The rotating cast of

quick-witted performers take suggestions from the audience and then spin a brandnew comedy musical out of thin air, complete with tunes, lyrics, dances and harmonies. It’s clever stuff, performed by clever people. And if audience reaction is anything to go by, you might even find yourself well and truly gobsmacked by just how good they are.

Sasha Velour: The Big Reveal Live Show

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Tues 31 October

The gender-fluid Sasha Velour - the seasonnine winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race back in 2017 - stops off in Birmingham in support of recently published book The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto Of Drag. Offering an immersive evening of storytelling and live art, the show features ‘iconic new performances’ by Sasha and an appearance by a special guest star.

sensitive about the subjects of ‘divorce, German terrorists and foot trauma’, it might be best to opt for a quiet night in!

An unauthorised parody of classic 1980s Bruce Willis action movie Die Hard, the show is heading out on tour following rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and in London.

Ru Paul’s Drag Race: Werq The World

Utilita Arena Birmingham, Thurs 12 October

Bimini Bon-Boulash will be the only UK drag queen in Werq The World when the show sashays into Birmingham’s Utilita Arena this month.

Bimini will be appearing alongside US drag queens Jaida Essence Hall, Aquaria, Vanessa Vanjie, Angeria, Bosco, Daya Betty, Kandy Muse and Ginger Minj.

The show is set in a dystopian future and finds the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race having to choose between the real world and the artificial one they have come to know.

Commenting on the production, Bimini said: “I can’t wait to team up with my drag sisters for five amazing nights on the Werq The World tour. It’s going to be huge, so get ready for the largest drag production in herstory!”

Yippee Ki Yay

Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 12 October; The Rep, Birmingham, Sat 14 October

The award-winning Richard Marsh’s critically acclaimed show comes complete with a content warning - so if you’re particularly

JAMIE’S WORLD

by Hugh Montgomery

Hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie tells the story of 16-year-old Jamie New, who dreams of becoming a drag queen.

Inspired by a real-life television documentary and garnering great critical acclaim since premiering in 2017, the show returns to the Midlands this month, with Ivano Turco taking the title role, John Partridge playing Hugo/Loco Chanelle and Hayley Tamaddon starring as Miss Hedge... What’s On recently caught up with the trio to find out more...

“It’s very freeing in that sense, in that I can put a lot of my natural movement into it.”

One of the other aspects of the role that really resonates with Ivano is Jamie’s close relationship with his mother. “For the most part I grew up in a single-parent household with my mother, so we really had that kind of connection. [Like Jamie] I know what it felt like to have a dream that was different from everyone else’s.”

Since it premiered in 2017, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has been a huge international hit. Ivano believes its success has a lot to do with the pioneering nature of the character of Jamie himself. “He’s just a boy who happens to be gay and wants to be a drag queen. I think that’s a refreshing lens to look through - [someone] who’s not burdened by their queerness. I know I really felt empowered by that, watching it.”

In his short career so far, super-talented musical theatre star Ivano Turco has already demonstrated formidable range. Having made his professional debut playing Prince Sebastian in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella in the West End, he then transformed into reggae icon Bob Marley in bio-musical Get Up, Stand Up!. But his latest role, as Jamie in the new touring production of heartwarming British musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, is particularly fulfilling because “it’s the closest character to my actual character that I’ve played.” That’s partly because, in playing a gay teenage hero and aspiring drag queen, Ivano is getting to embrace his queerness in a way that his previous theatre roles haven’t allowed. “I really wanted to be able to experience playing within those realms and not having to put on several layers to try and be somebody else.”

What this means in practice, Ivano explains, is that in the rehearsal process, he doesn’t “have to do as much” in terms of trying to figure out his character’s mannerisms and nuances.

Ivano thinks another of the show’s key draws is its music. “The music is really easy to digest. It’s a lot like what we listen to nowadays, so it’s much more realistic [than most musical theatre].”

If Jamie has had a remarkable run over the last few years, then so has its new star. From an early age, Ivano set his sights on performing. Growing up in Milton Keynes, he graduated from drama school in 2020 and found himself personally chosen by Lord Lloyd Webber to be the male lead in his hotly anticipated new show, Cinderella. The experience proved to be wonderful for Ivano, if somewhat nerve-wracking: “To have a multimillion pound musical resting on your shoulders was hard to navigate for me. I found at times it was hard to really [appreciate my achievement] because there was just so much work to be done. But then somewhere about halfway [through the run], because I really knew the show and what I wanted to do as an actor, it became perfect.”

To top that challenge, Ivano then took the

lead role of Bob Marley in the musical Get Up, Stand Up! - and did so on the back of only two weeks’ rehearsal! “The first Bob had a year to prepare … so for me to try and get all that work done in two weeks was… well, a challenge!”

As for the future, Ivano really isn’t thinking too far beyond Jamie, “dream show” that it is. “[This role] is my chance to put into overdrive all the techniques that I've learned, as the character is so much closer to me. I feel like there's a lot more power with it that I’ve been afforded.”

Getting to dress up must be one of the most enjoyable elements of an actor’s life - and in that respect, John Partridge is certainly relishing playing Hugo - aka frustrated drag artiste Loco Chanelle - in the new tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. “I’ve tried on Loco’s undergarb so far,” he says, “the padding and the corset, and I’m looking forward to it. I always like characters that are transformative.”

John’s only costume concern is Loco’s vertiginous heels. “I have worn heels, but

Ivano Turco Jamie

John Partridge Loco Chanelle

these are extraordinary. So I’ve been teetering around in them at home - I answered the door to the builders in them this morning!”

For John, who became a household name playing Christian Clarke in EastEnders, the show is a perfect entrée back into musical theatre after having major surgery on his vocal cords.

“My role [in Jamie] is small and perfectly formed,” he says of Hugo, the dress shop owner who, in the process of becoming a mentor to the show’s titular hero as he takes his first steps in drag, rediscovers his own passion for performing.

“There’s something very comforting about stepping into this Jamie juggernaut,” says John, who adds that the production already feels very ‘family’.

“I know that’s a word that’s thrown around all the time, and actually it’s often a lie - it’s something we say simply to give that impression - but this really is like that. It’s to do with the feeling of the piece; there’s something very grounding about it.”

As for his character, John says he’s really connected on a personal level with Hugo and his poignant journey. “There aren’t that many parts written for a mid-50s gay man. [Like Hugo] I’m at the moment in my life where I’m fully aware of what’s behind me as opposed to what’s in front of me - of my fleeting successes and my failures and disappointments.”

It has to be said, though, that John is being pretty hard on himself, given the amount of success he’s had. On stage, he’s been dazzling audiences ever since appearing in the original UK tour of Cats, aged just 16. His impressive CV also includes showstopping performances in, among other musicals, Cabaret and La Cage Aux Folles.

In 2008 he landed the part of the out-andproud Christian in EastEnders, quickly becoming a fan favourite.

Indeed, he thinks Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has been such a success because it has the mass appeal of a TV soap opera. “It’s a story about Jamie, but it’s also got this really wide breadth of very well-crafted characters that you see in your daily life. You live with them in your own homes, on your own streets.”

What’s more, he says, he couldn’t be prouder to be involved in a show that, in telling the story of a gay teenager, flies the flag for the LGBTQIA+ community. “We see this massive push against LGBTQIA+ hard-won freedomsand they are hard-won freedoms … and that’s why it’s really important for us right now to be able to get out there and tell this story.

And the fact that people *love* this show gives me hope. It shows me there is a way through.”

“I did have one teacher, Mrs Crossley, who was ace - she used to tell me ‘Be whatever you want to be, go dance, go sing.’ But a lot of teachers said ‘You’ll never make it, Hayley - it’s too difficult, don’t try and do it.’ That just made me want to do it even more.”

Indeed, from baby ballet classes onwards, Hayley never looked back. After graduating from drama school, she went straight into a West End musical, landing a role that would change everything for her: the lead in a Sheffield revival of A Chorus Line. In the audience for that show was Emmerdale’s casting director - and so it was that she landed the part of the irrepressible Del Dingle.

Whether starring as much-loved characters in Emmerdale and Coronation Street, or appearing as herself in shows such as Dancing On Ice, Hayley Tamaddon has always lit up the screen with her natural warmth and charm. So she’s performing quite the switch-up with her role in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, for once playing someone relatively cold and unsympathetic: cynical teacher Miss Hedge, who is out to quash poor Jamie’s showbiz dreams. “I am not cold,” Hayley says, confirming what a leap the character is for her. “I am huggy and warm and want to cuddle everybody - whereas she’s just a bit over life.”

Actually, Hayley has already played Miss Hedge - in the West End production of Jamie back in 2019 - and this new tour is proving a joyful return to the role. “Even though I’m a few years older, I’ve apparently still got the moves! I’m dancing around on tables, and I get to rap, which brings out that inner Vanilla Ice in me.”

Hayley doesn’t see Miss Hedge as a villain, but rather as someone who’s been beaten down by disappointment - and who has more in common with Jamie than might seem to be the case...

“The way I see her, she’s a really frustrated club singer. That’s all she wanted to do, but she couldn’t because there was no money, and she ended up going into teaching to make a living. She looks at Jamie as this kid she kind of sees herself in a little bit, but she can’t let that side out.”

Miss Hedge also reminds Hayley of teachers she encountered as a youngster growing up in Blackpool.

Alongside her successful telly career, Hayley has continued to tread the boards, appearing in shows including Chicago and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She thinks Jamie is something special, though - not least because of the sheer passion of its fans. “It has the biggest fanbase that I’ve ever known in any show. They hold parties for the cast and they’re very prominent on social media, so if anybody in our company was getting grilled by anybody, that fanbase would step in. So we’re very lucky to have that.”

Hayley is looking forward to the show picking up new fans as it travels around the UK - particularly because of the powerful statements the musical makes about tolerance and self-expression. “The more towns we can get this show into, the more parents are educated, the more kids that watch and go ‘I did bully that other kid at school, I should stop that’ – the more we can get the word out there, the better.”

So what else does Hayley have in the pipeline? Well, she’s currently writing a TV comedy, inspired by her own life. Meanwhile, she says she’d be interested in going into the jungle with I’m A Celebrity. “In terms of reality shows, that would be the funniest, because I’m scared of everything!”

When it comes to Jamie, however, she has no qualms about what lies ahead: “Of course I get stage nerves on opening night, and for the first few nights, but you turn over the energy and they become exciting nerves. It feels wonderful - you should never stop feeling like that.”

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 October and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 January

Hayley Tamaddon Miss Hedge

Dance previews from across the region

Dance

ACE Dance: Unknown Realms

The Rep, Birmingham, Tues 10 October; The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Thurs 12 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 7 November Committed to the presentation of contemporary dance inspired by the African Diaspora, ACE Dance & Music here collaborate with two internationally acclaimed Black male choreographers - Serge Aime Coulibaly (Burkina Faso) and Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa) - to present a double bill of work which they describe as ‘transcending the past and present’. The Night Before Tomorrow sees people engaging in their last dance ahead of an uncertain future. Mana, The Power Within, meanwhile, aims to ‘trace the journey of past lives by unifying beliefs & cultures’.

Ailey 2

Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 3 & Wed 4 October

Ground-breaking New York dance company

Ailey 2 visits Birmingham this month with a programme of popular audience favourites and ambitious contemporary pieces.

“What’s so exciting about Ailey 2 is that we are catching the enthusiasm and raw talent of the dancers at the beginning of their careers,” explains the company’s artistic director, Francesca Harper. “Audiences can expect excellence and heart. They can expect innovation, cutting-edge work, and the chance to see these young artists at the height of their expression. They are all so talented, and Ailey 2 provides the opportunity for that talent to flourish.”

The programme for 12 dancers features four works - excerpts from Francesca’s very own Freedom Series and William Forsythe’s Enemy In The Figure, along with Robert Battle’s The Hunt and Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, which is a signature work of all the Ailey companies.

Giselle

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 20 October; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 6 November Premiered in Paris in 1841, Giselle tells the story of a peasant girl who takes her own life when she finds out that the man with whom she has fallen in love, a nobleman named Albrecht, is engaged to another woman. After Giselle’s funeral, Albrecht visits her unconsecrated grave and finds himself in mortal danger: The Wilis, a sisterhood of ghosts who, in life, were jilted by their lovers, have returned to take their terrible revenge... Adolphe Adam’s surreal romantic ballet is here presented by Classical Ballet & Opera House.

mythical land of the Celtic Otherworld from destruction.

The show has been co-written and cochoreographed by Australian tap dancer, Hollywood actor and two-time Olivier Award nominee Adam Garcia. Expect mesmerising moves and lightning footwork aplenty...

An Evening With Anton Du Beke & Friends

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 2 October; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sun 8 October; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 29 October; Lichfield Garrick, Mon 29 April; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 30 April

It’s a busy old time for Anton Du Beke. Not only is he sitting in judgement on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants every weekend, he’s also out on the road with his latest show. This one sees the fleet-of-foot legend team up with his dancers, a live band and guest singer Lance Ellington to present an evening of song, dance and laughter. Behind-the scenes stories from his time on Strictly will also feature...

Seriously, what’s not to like?

Emerald Storm

Swan Theatre, Worcester, Sun 8 October; Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Fri 13 October; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sat 14 October From gentle ballet to fiery salsa, and from Irish dance to modern tap, the critically acclaimed Emerald Storm offers something for dance fans of every persuasion. Along the way it tells a pulsating story of mortals battling against the elements to save the

CELEBRATING THE BARD

for Shakespeare with his fellow Brummies...

Birmingham-born actor Adrian Lester is back in his home city this month to unveil a historic copy of the First Folio - the first collected volume of Shakespeare’s plays, which is this year celebrating its 400th anniversary. Here, Adrian chats to What’s On about the Folio, the Bard, and his own introduction to the works of the world’s greatest-ever playwright...

Actor & director Adrian Lester was a member of Birmingham Youth Theatre when he first discovered Shakespeare - and it opened up a whole new world for him. In plays written centuries ago, he found all of human experience.

Birmingham-born Adrian has since gone on to build a hugely successful career on both stage and screen, from long-running television series Hustle, to Shakespeare’s Henry V and Hamlet. And he’s keen to share this enthusiasm for the Bard with his fellow Brummies.

Adrian is the patron of the ‘Everything To Everybody’ Project, an initiative aiming to raise awareness of Birmingham’s unique Shakespeare Memorial Library, which contains, among thousands of other Bardrelated artefacts, a historic copy of the 1623 First Folio - the first collected volume of Shakespeare’s plays.

“It was Derek Nicholls at Birmingham Youth Theatre who introduced me to Shakespeare,” Adrian recalls. “He knew I wanted to be an actor and that I hadn’t read Shakespeare, so he gave me a copy of Measure For Measure to read - and at the same time he gave me a copy of a Shakespeare glossary.

“He said ‘Start slowly, and when you come to a word you don’t understand, look it up and then come back to the play.’ It took me about a week to read that play, and then I understood what Shakespeare was like.

“People say Shakespeare uses too many words, but once people understand how many ideas he’s fitting into one sentence, they realise he’s using too few words! Because in one speech is everything.”

The ‘Everything To Everybody’ Project has toured the First Folio to communities across Birmingham, sharing Shakespeare with people in museums, libraries, shopping centres and even Winson Green Prison.

Although the collected volume of plays is this year celebrating its 400th anniversary, Adrian says it very much speaks to today.

“It’s not just about taking this book around to show people; it’s looking at it through the

access to stories, the access to understanding human nature, how the plays were performed.

“It’s understanding the way Shakespeare galvanised people to understand storytelling, and it’s recognising its influence today. I mean, look at The Lion King - it’s a retelling of Hamlet - or some of the best television programmes, like Succession or Breaking Bad. People constantly say a show is ‘Shakespearian’ in character because how Shakespeare presents a character is uniquely Shakespearian.

“When they speak in soliloquy, the character is caught in a moment of time and their character is developed as they speak. And at that moment, you see how a character who you thought was one thing - and they thought they were one thing - suddenly shifts and twists and changes in front of you. And that is Shakespeare’s brilliance. It’s the essence of human nature.”

Adrian will be unveiling the First Folio at a celebration event for Everything To Everybody, taking place at Bullring and Grand Central on Saturday 21 October. People will have the chance to view the book and also take part in a range of activities.

“There’s going to be singing, drummers, music, people speaking Shakespeare in different languages, Stan’s Café theatre company and DESIBlitz. It’s the idea that you start with the words and then it becomes a melting pot of expression, and we’ll see how this or that came from the book. If I was doing an animation, you’d open this book and what flies out of it and comes to life is Hollywood movies, operas, ballets, paintings - in fact, everything.”

The Birmingham First Folio is unique in the world because it was given to the people of Birmingham by George Dawson in 1881 after he founded the Shakespeare Memorial Library. One of only 235 First Folios currently known to exist, it is the only one which belongs to the people of a city. And that matters, says Adrian.

“The fact that it belongs to everybody, the

people of Birmingham, is so important. The idea that it sits in the library and no one knows about it is what the ‘Everything To Everybody’ Project is aiming to change. Professor Ewan Fernie at the University of Birmingham, who is the project director, and the team at the library just thought ‘We have to do something about it, we have to shout about it,’ and they got me on board.

“It’s a free library. You walk in and you look, and you should have access simply because you were born here; simply because it was prepared for you; simply because someone wrote it and said ‘I want people to read this.’ If you want to own it, then you should pay for it, but if you want to have access to it, to simply exist in the same space as the work, then it should be free. We’re talking about classical work. Talent doesn’t sit behind a paywall.”

That spirit of social philanthropy not only inspires Adrian but changed his life.

“I am the result of an Everything To Everybody ethos. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the dancefloors at Midlands Arts Centre if they didn’t keep the doors open to a young man who couldn’t afford to get in. The Birmingham Youth Theatre would not have been there if that ethos wasn’t true. There wouldn’t have been access to drama schools, RADA or wherever. The idea that councils saw that you got in and then gave you a grant to go and train wouldn’t have existed. I wouldn’t be where I am today if various structures and various funding bodies did not exist to make sure that the people who walked through the door could be supported. They simply had to have the interest and the talent - and nothing else.”

The ‘Everything To Everybody’ Project celebration takes place at Bullring & Grand Central on Saturday 21 October between 11am and 4pm.

Further information can be found at everythingtoeverybody.bham.ac.uk

Film highlights in October...

Foe CERT 15 (110 mins)

Starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Aaron Pierre, Jordan Chodziesner, William Freeman, Jalen Ong

Directed by Garth Davis

Adapted from the 2018 novel of the same name by Iain Reid (who’s co-written the film script with director Garth Davis), Foe is a haunting exploration of marriage and identity set in an uncertain near-future world. Married couple Hen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that’s been in Junior’s family for generations. But when a stranger arrives with a startling proposal, their quiet life and relationship is thrown into an unexpected turmoil...

“The point of the movie is that corporate power and environmental decay is literally eating away at the natural world,” says Australian director Davis. “Not just the environment, but from a human point of view, it’s eating away at society and taking away why we’re meant to be here and what connects us.”

Foe is the second of Reid’s novels to be adapted for the cinema screen, following on from the Charlie Kaufmandirected I'm Thinking Of Ending Things, released in 2020.

Released Fri 20 October

Golda CERT 12a (100 mins)

Starring Helen Mirren, Zed Josef, Claudette Williams, Henry Goodman, Emma Davies, Rotem Keinan Directed by Guy Nattiv Helen Mirren disappears beneath the prosthetics to play Israeli prime minister Golda Meir, who came to power in 1969 and resigned five years later over her administration’s handling of the Yom Kippur War.

And it’s that 19-day conflict - waged in 1973 between Israel and an Arab-state coalition led by Egypt and Syria - that sits at the heart of a film described by its publicity as a ticking-clock thriller. Sadly, it’s anything but, failing to mine the drama of a situation in which the future of a whole country hangs in the balance, and plodding along at a pedestrian pace that stops the audience from ever really managing to give a damn. Mirren is okay as the chain-smoking Golda, but isn’t afforded the opportunity to set the screen alight - a fact which is every bit as disappointing as the film itself.

Released Fri 6 October

The Great Escaper

CERT 12a (96 mins)

Starring Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson, John Standing, Donald Stage Mackay, Danielle Vitlis, Will Fletcher Directed by Oliver Parker

Dalíland CERT 15 (97 mins)

Starring Ben Kingsley, Barbara Sukowa, Ezra Miller, Christopher Briney, Rupert Graves, Andreja Pejic Directed by Mary Harron

Helmed by American Psycho director Mary Harron, Daliland stars Sir Ben Kingsley as legendary surrealist artist Salvador Dali. In 1970s New York, Dali enjoys the latter stage of his career and a lifestyle awash with luxury and extravagant parties. Surrounded by his own decadence and a band of eccentric followers who worship him, he is content with avoiding a fastapproaching art show and the demands of his formidable wife, Gala...

In 2014, at the ripe old age of 89, former naval officer Bernard Jordan sneaked out of his nursing home and made his way to France for the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day Landings. This is his story.

With a script by Made In Dagenham writer William Ivory, The Great Escaper sees Academy Award winners Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson - the latter in her final film role - team up on screen for the first time in almost 50 years (they were last seen together in The Romantic Englishwoman, in 1975). Early reviews of the film have been very positive - and with Caine and Jackson taking the lead roles (Caine as Bernard, Jackson as his wife, Irene), there’s every chance it will prove to be a beautiful story beautifully told.

Released Fri 6 October

The film’s story is told through the eyes of James Linton, a young gallery assistant who’s eager to make a name for himself in the art world. Although initially beguiled by the provocative world of Dali, James soon realises that behind the glitz and glamour lies a fragile genius; a man haunted by the past and unprepared for the changing world around him.

Released Fri 13 October

Killers Of The Flower Moon

CERT 15 (206 mins)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow

Directed by Martin Scorsese

When it comes to films, Martin Scorsese likes to make epics, but even by his standard his last two movies have been off the scale.

His 2019 film, The Irishman, came in at one minute shy of three-and-a-half hours. At only three minutes shorter, Killers Of The Flower Moon is equally likely to see the average cinema-goer lose all sensation in their backside. However, the payback for a passing numbness in the gluteus maximus region is likely to be significant: Scorsese is quite simply one of Hollywood’s greatest-ever directors - and he looks set to remind everybody of the fact with this based-ona-true-story story.

The film’s focus is a 1920s series of murders which took place in the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, committed after oil was discovered on tribal land.

Scorsese favourites Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro make a welcome return to head a magnificently talented cast.

Released Fri 20 October

Trolls Band Together CERT PG

With the voices of Anna Kendrick, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Timberlake, Kunal Nayyar, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Daveed Diggs Directed by Walt Dohrn and Tim Heitz

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

CERT U (92 mins)

With the voices of Finn Lee-Epp, Ron Pardo, Mckenna Grace, Christian Convery, Taraji P Henson, Marsai Martin Directed by Cal Brunke Fans of Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol would have to be barking mad not to catch this latest spin-off film.

When a magical meteor crash-lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers.

But things then take a turn for the worse when arch rival Humdinger breaks out of prison and teams up with a mad scientist to steal the superpowers...

For those not in the know, PAW Patrol is a Canadian television series about a young boy named Ryder and his crew of search & rescue dogs. As well as offering plenty of entertainment for youngsters, the show also aims to be educational and enlightening, sharing lessons about subjects including citizenship, social skills and problemsolving.

All in all, then, a film that your kids are quite likely to go, er, absolutely mutts about...

Released Fri 13 October

Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake make a welcome return for this third installment of DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster musical franchise.

With Poppy and Branch now officially a couple, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favourite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, along with his four brothers. BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby - as did the familyand Branch hasn’t seen his siblings since. But when Branch’s bro, Floyd, is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains, Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers - and to rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than popculture obscurity...

Released Fri 20 October

Five Nights At Freddy’s

CERT tbc (110 mins)

Starring Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, Mary Stuart Masterson, Kevin Foster, Kat Conner Sterling Directed by Emma Tammi

The horror game phenomenon of the same name here gets the Hollywood movie treatment. The film follows Mike, a troubled young man caring for his 10-year-old sister Abby and haunted by the unsolved disappearance of his younger brother more than a decade earlier.

Recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of Abby, Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at abandoned theme restaurant Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But he soon discovers that nothing at Freddy’s is quite what it seems.

With the aid of local police officer Vanessa, Mike’s nights at Freddy’s lead him into unexplainable encounters with the supernatural, in the process dragging him into the dark heart of an unspeakable nightmare...

Released Fri 27 October

Visual Arts previews from around the region

British Ceramics Biennal

Various locations, Stoke-on-Trent, until Sun 5 November

Presented against the backdrop of Stoke-onTrent’s industrial heritage, the free-to-attend British Ceramics Biennal is a celebration of the potential of clay in terms of storytelling, playfulness and risk-taking.

The festival comprises six weeks of exhibitions, installations and events, which not only spotlight the UK’s leading ceramicists but also introduce work by international artists and fresh new talent.

The main venue is the city’s All Saints Church, where visitors can check out several exhibitions & displays. They can also have a go at making ceramics themselves in the Tactile Project Space... Other venues presenting work include Stoke’s Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (showing Embodiments Of Memory by Osman Yousefzada) and AirSpace Gallery (Social Substance by William Cobbing). Further afield, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Brampton Museum is hosting Obsolescence And Renewal by Neil Brownsword.

Visual Arts

Derek Boshier: Image In Revolt

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 7 Oct - Sun 21 January

Derek Boshier’s lifelong fascination with the power, use and function of images is much in evidence in this celebration of his 60 years as a restlessly inventive artist.

Taking a rare overview of his career, the exhibition features examples of his artwork from the postwar period - such as Pop paintings tackling nuclear anxieties - right through to the digital age; his more recent work includes expressive paintings and drawings confronting gender, technology and war at the height of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements.

Wildlife Photographer Of The Year

Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, Fri 27 October - Mon 1 April

“We are facing urgent biodiversity and climate crises, and photography is a powerful catalyst for change.”

So says Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, which has developed & produced this year’s Wildlife Photographer Of The Year competition. “The exhibition reveals some of nature’s most wondrous sights,” adds Dr Gurr,

History In The Making

Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Sat 21 October - Sun 11 February

The subtitle of this exhibition is ‘stories of materials and making in the collections of Woburn Abbey and the Crafts Council, 700AD to now’ - which does a pretty good job of explaining what the show is all about.

Madge Gill: The Clouds Will Burst The Sun Will Shine Again

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, until Sun 26 November

Seeking solace from a difficult life, Madge Gill found inspiration in spirituality and nature - a fact reflected in the critically acclaimed artwork she produced during

“whilst also offering hope and achievable actions that visitors can take to help protect the natural world.”

The hugely prestigious show - visiting the Herbert as part of an extensive tourfeatures a host of awe-inspiring images capturing fascinating animal behaviour and breathtaking landscapes.

The photos included in the exhibition have been selected from 49,957 entries, with photographers from no fewer than 95 countries taking part.

The 2024 competition opens this month, on Monday the 16th.

Presenting the historic and the contemporary side-by-side, History In The Making explores the changing attitudes towards materials over time. It also investigates craft both in terms of its importance to communities and its environmental impact... The exhibition is accompanied by a programme of talks and practical workshops.

her now-celebrated career.

Born in 1882, Madge was a self-taught and prolific artist, using her drawings, paintings and embroidery to explore the struggles she faced, and also to record her experiences of joy and hope.

To add some meat to the bone in terms of the exhibition, its curator, Sophie Dutton, will be in conversation with MAC’s CEO & artistic director, Deborah Kermode, on Thursday 26 October (6.30pm - 8pm).

Phantom Sculpture

Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 6 October - Sun 10 March

This brand-new exhibition aims to find links between sculpture’s past, present and future. Featuring work by some of the most important artists from the last century, the show also considers the discipline’s physical relationship to space, and how it embodies lived experiences, notions of place and cultural significance.

Anthony Caro, Richard Deacon, Mona Hatoum, Sarah Lucas and Rachel Whiteread are among the established and upcoming artists whose work is included in the exhibition.

Events previews from around the region

Events

Half term at The Bear Grylls Adventure

The Bear Grylls Adventure, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT

The Bear Grylls Adventure has everything you need for an adrenaline-fuelled day out, with activities including high ropes, indoor archery and climbing, escape rooms and axethrowing.

The more-courageous visitor can check out Cage Snorkel and Shark Dive, where they can ‘take the plunge’ with blacktip reef sharks and tropical fish.

Fancy experiencing the thrill of free-falling at 12,000ft without having to jump out of a plane? Then you’re in luck, as the attraction is home to one of only five iFly wind tunnels in the UK.

Based on Channel Four’s long-running programme, Grand Designs Live is the best place to access ideas, advice and products to make your own home project a success. The show features hundreds of exhibitors and is split into four key sections - Build, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Interiors and Gardens - with designers, planning and finance specialists, architects and project managers all on hand to offer expert advice.

Horse Of The Year Show

NEC, Birmingham, Wed 4 - Sun 8 October

The Horse Of The Year Show is back in Birmingham this month for its 74th edition. The five-day event includes end-of-season national championships for showing and showjumping competitors, as well as international showjumping.

Alongside two arenas of top-class competition, spectators can enjoy impressive displays and numerous crowd favourites, including scurry driving and mounted games.

The show also features a retail village stocked with a range of essentials from top equestrian brands.

Sustainability talks and workshop demos also feature, celebrating the best conceptual and eco-friendly construction ideas. Additional attractions include live talks, Ask An Expert, Green Living Live and Green Living Advice Zone.

The show’s usual array of celebrity guests will also be in attendance, as will Kevin McCloud, who’s been hosting the television series since it premiered 24 years ago.

Jet And Space Week

Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Cosford, Sat 28 October - Sun 5 November

Every adventurer will also get to test their agility on the assault course, which is included with any activity ticket. The venue now welcomes children aged five and older on a number of activities, so even the littlest adventurers can get in on the action.

The Motorhome & Caravan Show

NEC, Birmingham, Tues 17 - Sun 22 October

The RAF Museum Midlands’ first event of its kind, Jet And Space Week sees the venue taking visitors through the history of space exploration via a huge mobile planetarium called Space Odyssey’s Galileo Dome (Thursday 2 - Sunday 5 November).

The week’s line-up of attractions also includes two stargazing evenings with Shropshire Astronomical Society (Saturday 28 October & Wednesday 1 November), the chance to test decision-making skills with a Cuban Missile Crisis-related game (Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 October), and the opportunity to find out all about spacesuits courtesy of a special interactive display (Wednesday 1 - Friday 3 November).

Spanning 11 halls, the Motorhome & Caravan Show is the UK leisure-vehicle industry’s national showcase for the latest motorhome, campervan, caravan and trailer tents. Visitors can speak directly with experts, gain valuable advice, book their pitches and holidays for 2024, and pick up any accessories needed for future trips. Free motorhome driving and towing workshops, and plenty of talks by celebrities and vloggers, also feature.

Grand Designs Live NEC, Birmingham, Wed 4 - Sun 8 October

Events previews from around the region Events

Halloween at Thinktank

Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, Mon 30 October - Fri 3 November

There are spinetingling goings-on aplenty at Thinktank during this month’s half-term holiday.

The Fright At The Museum family show takes place daily and is full to the brim with freaky facts and spooky science experiments. Meanwhile, over in MiniBrum’s Den, daily Halloween and autumn-themed interactive and sensory stay & play sessions should keep little ones aged 18 months to three years old nicely entertained.

Severn Valley Railway Ghost & Scream Trains

Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, nr Kidderminster, Sat 28 - Tues 31 October

Are you brave enough to ride the Ghost Train at Severn Valley Railway this Halloween?

Kickstart your fright night with tricks and treats for the whole family to enjoy at Kidderminster Station, then take your reserved seats and settle back to experience a ride out into the darkness.

Scary characters will join you on board, sneaking along the corridors of the train as it passes through haunted stations to Arley.

Brick Or TreatMonster Party

Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham, Sat 30 September - Sun 5 November

Little monsters can enjoy plenty of chills and thrills at Legoland Discovery Centre this month.

Along with two rides, build & play zones and a soft-play area, mini builders and their families can sink their teeth into a whole (g)host of fang-tastic seasonal activities.

Highlights include a haunted Miniland spooky scavenger hunt, the chance to help build Lego pumpkins to add to the monster garden, and an opportunity to check out Lego 4D Halloween movie The Great Monster Chase!. Mascot Scarecrow will also be on site for a Halloween dance party and photo opportunities.

The Ghost Train experience lasts for approximately 75 minutes and comes complete with a free goodie bag for every child.

Severn Valley Railway is also hosting a similar but ‘more fearsome’ event for older guests. The Scream Train is aimed at visitors aged 18-plus and features ‘petrifying ghouls’ who will be looking to scare the life out of commuters as they make their way to Arley.

Ascarium: Trick Or Treat

National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham, Sun 8 October - Sun 5 November

Get ready to dive into some spinetingling fun as the SEA LIFE Centre transforms from aquarium to ascarium this Halloween. Guests are invited to follow an immersive trail, complete magical challenges throughout the aquarium, and help the sea witch and warlock look after their ocean home and fellow sea creatures. There are games and activities to check out as well, with visitors receiving a reward for completing the ‘spook-splash-tic challenges’.

Victorian Ghost Town

Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Fri 27 & Saturday 28 October

Celebrate Halloween with two nights of spooky special events and creepy goings-on in the lamp-lit streets of Blists Hill Victorian Town.

Visitors can try candle dipping and poster printing, shop for handmade Halloween items at the Morbid Market and meet creatures from a local reptile rescue organisation at the Spooky Zoo. Other highlights include a special trick-ortreat trail and a lantern parade to the fairground, where youngsters will be able to sing, dance and take part in a special costume competition.

Events previews from around the region

Events

Halloween Fun At The Farm

Mary Arden’s Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tues 31 October, Thurs 2 & Sat 4 November Discover the weird and wonderful Halloween traditions of medieval and Tudor England at Mary Arden’s Farm this October half term. As well as learning about the customs which people used to follow in order to ward off evil spirits, visitors can also sample a selection of hands-on activities, including making soul cakes, carving pumpkins and crafting a protection charm.

Disney On Ice Presents 100 Years Of Wonder

Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Wed 1 - Sun 5 November

Disney On Ice is back in Birmingham this half-term-holiday with 100 Years Of Wonder. Set and costume designers have created approximately 180 props and 250 different costumes for the show, all of which will be transported to Birmingham, alongside the impressive set itself, in a staggering 19 trucks!

Featuring Mirabel and the stars of Encanto for the very first time in the UK, the show also includes plenty of well-established on-

On The Home Front 1940s Weekend

Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove, Sat 14 & Sun 15 October

Avoncroft Museum steps back to the 1940s this month, providing visitors with a taste of life in the Midlands during the Second World War.

The event’s attractions include motorcycles and vehicles from the era, roaming reenactors, dance classes, a vintage trading area and a fashion show.

A wartime dance event (costing £10pp) takes place on the Saturday evening and comes complete with live entertainment and a 1940s village-hall atmosphere.

ice favourites...

There’s Moana and Maui - who’ll be busy trying to save the island of Motunui - the Disney Princesses, Frozen’s Anna, Elsa & Olaf, the Toy Story gang, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia, and Dory, Nemo, Marlin and new pal Hank. The storyline sees Mickey Mouse being joined by his friends on a journey to discover his favourite memory of all time.

Spooky Spectacular

West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Sat 21 October - Sun 5 November

West Midland Safari Park is once again hosting its Spooky Spectacular event for Halloween - and as usual there’s plenty to keep half-term visitors entertained. As well as a free Spooky Trail, there’s also a spinetingling virtual-reality ride, the chance to say a big hello to Patch the Pumpkin Scarecrow and his new friend, Mitzy Monster, and a daily silly science show. Opening hours will be extended on Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 October so that visitors can explore the park after dark.

Oh, and broomsticks at the ready too, as there will also be an immersive reimagining of one of Shakespeare’s spookiest tales: Macbeth.

After-Dark Tours

The Commandery, Worcester, Tues 17, Thurs 19, Tues 24, Thurs 26 & Tues 31 October

The Commandery is one of Worcester’s oldest buildings and a place that harbours lots of ghostly secrets for visitors to uncover. Suitable for people aged 14-plus, the venue’s after-dark tours include tales of strange sightings and mysterious rumours, with your guide for the evening giving the history of the building a hair-raising Halloween twist.

Aston Hall’oween

Aston Hall, Birmingham, Sun 29 October

Dress in your finest ghoulish gear and head to Aston Hall for some family-friendly Halloween fun this month.

Meet creepy characters as you explore the hall, including the wise woman - who’s sure to have a cure for whatever ails you - a man of science & medicine speaking about the nature of the universe, and a witch hunter, who will be prowling the halls in search of broomstick-riding ne’er-do-wells with pointy hats and a bad attitude.

Sarah Millican - Aston Hall, Wrexham

Russell Watson In ConcertLichfield Cathedral

Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliet - Wolverhampton Grand Tues 17 - Sat 21 October

Vincent Simone: Tango Passions - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

thelist

VISUAL ARTS IN THE MIDLANDS Gigs

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

MALI MORRIS: CALLING Major solo exhibition documenting Mali’s changing approach to her art in the past 25 years, until Fri 22 Dec

DEAN KELLAND: IMPOSTER SYNDROME Exhibition featuring a number of Dean’s new films, prints and sketchbooks that reimagine the psychoanalytic dialogue that has occurred between Pop Art and prison art since the 1960s, until Fri 22 Dec

Midlands Arts Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham

WATERSHED Group exhibition exploring the relationship between Birmingham and Elan Valley, Walestwo places inextricably linked by water, until Sun 5 Nov

WORLDS AWAY: ART, NATURE AND WELLBEING Exhibition bringing together work by artists who have been inspired by the natural world and its power to stimulate feelings of belonging and mental & physical wellbeing, until Sun 26 Nov

New Art Gallery, Walsall

KARLA BLACK Major solo exhibition from the critically acclaimed Scottish artist, featuring previously unseen sculptures, until Sun 29 Oct

A SENSE OF PLACE Featuring artworks created across the West Midlands, with a focus on nature, collections and wellbeing, until Sun 26 Nov

PRIDE & PRIVILEGE AT THE CLASS ACT

Temporary exhibition exploring class and identity, until Sun 9 June 2024

ANNETTE PUGH: HAPPENSTANCE

Featuring newly commissioned oil paintings that explore traces of human presence in the landscape, until Sun 7 Jan

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

ODE TO NANA Exhibition by Jioni Warner, in celebration of Windrush 75, that explores the ideas of legacy, struggle and change, until Sat 4 Nov

EMBODIMENTS OF MEMORY BY OSMAN

YOUSEFZADA (BCB 2023) A series of sculptural works taking visitors on a journey through birth, life, death and the thereafter, until Sun 5 Nov

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery

SMTC: 100 YEARS OF MUSICAL

THEATRE Featuring exhibits marking the rich history of Shrewsbury Musical Theatre Company (SMTC), until Fri 10 Nov

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

FRIENDS IN FOCUS Exhibition bringing together a selection of artworks from the gallery’s permanent collection, until Sun 5 Nov

SOFT POWER Featuring Su Richardson’s humorous and subversive crocheted sculptures confronting notions of femininity and domesticity, until Sun 10 Dec

POP PARADE Showcasing the gallery’s most iconic pop artworks by leading British and American artists, until Sun 31 Dec

Elsewhere:

JOURNEY INTO MARVEL New exhibition looking at the world of Marvel Comics, until Sat 14 October, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

SHROPSHIRE OPEN Featuring works in a selection of different media on the theme of growth, until Fri 27 Oct, The Gateway, Shrewsbury

CONTEMPORARY GLASS SOCIETY AT 25: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Exhibition telling the story of both CGS and the world it reflects. Featuring glass artworks selected from the past 25 years, until Mon 30 Oct, Stourbridge

Glass Museum

ART FOR ALL REASONS

Wolverhampton Society of Artist’s 104th exhibition, until Tues 31 Oct, The Rose Paterson Art Gallery, The Granary, Weston Park, Shifnal, Shropshire

GAIA BY LUKE JERRAM Installation enabling visitors to contemplate ‘our fragile planet from a different perspective; one usually reserved for astronauts’, until Sun 5 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral

THE DAILY GRIND: THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE IRONBRIDGE GORGE Exhibition shining a spotlight on the lives and voices of the people who have worked in the industries of the Ironbridge Gorge, from the early days of the 18th century until the end of the First World War, until Sun 5 November, Coalbrookdale

Museum of Iron, Shropshire

GERMAN WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

EXHIBITION Exhibition tracing the history of the cemetery and the reconciliation between Britons and Germans after 1945, until Sun 19 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral

THE WILD SIDE Solo exhibition of works by painter Susie Davis, Tues 3 - Sat 28 Oct, Church Stretton Library, Church Stretton, South Shropshire

PAULINA KOROBKIEWICZ: HOMELAND

Exhibition addressing themes of political identity, belonging, memory and representation, Fri 6 Oct - Sat 18 Nov, Centrala, Digbeth, B’ham

DIVINE + RIAR SAAB Sun 1 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

HAPPYSAD Sun 1 Oct, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham

JUDY COLLINS Sun 1 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

RADIO COSTELLO Sun 1

Oct, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

SUNDAY SESSIONS Sun 1

Oct, 45Live, Kidderminster

KARNATAKA Sun 1 Oct, The Robin, Bilston

THE BOOTLEG BEATLES

Sun 1 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS Sun 1 Oct, The Prince Of Wales, Cannock

EDDI READER Sun 1 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

LAUREN SPENCER SMITH + HENRY MOODIE +

GEENA FONTANELLA Mon 2 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE MUSIC OF BUDDY

HOLLY AND THE CRICKETERS Mon 2 Oct, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

ALMSHOUSE ALL-STARS

TRIO Mon 2 Oct, Bill’s Kitchen, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

VADER + VOMITORY +

SKAPHOS Tues 3 Oct,

KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

POWFU Wed 4 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

CARDINAL BLACK Wed 4 Oct, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

GABBA GABBA HEY! Wed 4 Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

GANG OF FOUR + MIKI

BERENYI TRIO + LOOSE

ARTICLES Thurs 5 Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham

JUST MY IMAGINATIONTHE MUSIC OF THE TEMPTATIONS Thurs 5

Oct, Wolverhampton

Grand Theatre

LOST IN MUSIC Thurs 5

Oct, Lichfield Garrick

JIVE TALKIN’ - BEE GEES

TRIBUTE Thurs 5 Oct, Theatre Severn,

Shrewsbury

WILLOW HILL Thurs 5

Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

ELYSIAN DIVIDE Thurs 5

Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

FOREVER ELTON Thurs 5

Oct, Telford Theatre, Oakengates, Shropshire

TOMBSTONE DUNNERY

Thurs 5 Oct, Hermon

Arts, Oswestry, North Shropshire

THE SHERLOCKS Fri 6

Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

LAUREN MAYBERRY Fri 6

Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

FRED ZEPPELIN Fri 6 Oct, 45Live, Kidderminster

STEVE IGNORANT BAND +

HEADSTICKS Fri 6 Oct, The Robin, Bilston

CASEY LOWRY Fri 6 Oct, Newhampton Arts

Centre, Wolverhampton

HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT

Fri 6 Oct, Wulfrun at The Halls

Wolverhampton

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL - WHITNEY HOUSTON

TRIBUTE Fri 6 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

FINNEY Fri 6 Oct, The

Underground, Stokeon-Trent

MADE IN TENNESSEE Fri 6 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

TALON Fri 6 Oct, Theatre

Severn, Shrewsbury

XENNA AS TAYLOR SWIFT Fri 6 Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

SKABURST Fri 6 Oct, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

THE DRIFTERS Fri 6 Oct, Telford Theatre, Oakengates, Shropshire

CHLOE MOGG Fri 6 Oct, Hermon Arts, Oswestry, North Shropshire

BORN ZERO + GODETH +

DRØNES Fri 6 Oct, Percy’s Cafe Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

PARADISE CIRCUS +

PENTIRE + SUNBALM Sat 7 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

KK’S PRIEST + PAUL

DI’ANNO + BURNING

WITCHES Sat 7 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

RAF-SAPERRA Sat 7 Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham

THE DOORS ALIVE Sat 7 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

SYSTEM OF A DOWN UK + UNTIL 9 Sat 7 Oct, The Flapper, B’ham

HOWARD JONES + BLANCMANGE Sat 7 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

THE FATHER TEDS Sat 7 Oct, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

THE PIANO MAN - BILLY

JOEL TRIBUTE Sat 7 Oct, Dudley Town Hall

LIZZIE & THE BANSHEES Sat 7 Oct, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

CAITY BASER Sat 7 Oct, Keele University, Stokeon-Trent

HENGE Sat 7 Oct, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs

THE GREATEST HITS OF MOTOWN Sat 7 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

MATTHEW HALSALL Sat 7 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

DURAN DURAN

EXPERIENCE Sat 7 Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

THE FABULOUS BORDELLOS Sat 7 Oct, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford MACY O Sat 7 Oct, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shrops

SHOP FRONT HEROES + NINE FOOT BRIAN + RIVERSTONE Sat 7 Oct, Percy’s Cafe Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

LEVEL 42 + THE CHRISTIANS Sun 8 Oct, The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

THE ELVIS WORLD TOUR

Sun 8 Oct,

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

THE NICK ROSS

ORCHESTRA - THE GLENN MILLER & RAT PACK ERA

Sun 8 Oct, Lichfield

Garrick

ABBAMANIA Sun 8 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

Classical Music

SYMPHONIC UNIVERSE Featuring music from The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange and more... Sun 1 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

THE LONDON FILM MUSIC ORCHESRATHE BEST OF HANS ZIMMER & JOHN WILLIAMS ORCHESTRAL TRIBUTE

Featuring scores from Star Wars, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Inception, The Dark Knight and more... Sun 1 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

PETER STEVENS ORGAN CONCERT Tues

3 Oct, Lichfield Cathedral

RACHMANINOFF WITH KAZUKI YAMADA & THE CBSO Featuring Fazil Say (piano). Programme includes works by Prokofiev, Saint-Saëns & Rachmaninoff, Wed 4 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

HUW WIGGIN (SAXOPHONE) & OLIVER

WASS (HARP) Thurs 5 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

THOMAS TROTTER: CELEBRATING 40

YEARS AS BIRMINGHAM CITY ORGANIST

Fri 6 Oct, Symphony Hall, B’ham

RYAN CORBETT ACCORDION CONCERT

Programme includes works by J.S Bach, Couperin, Piazolla, Repnikov, Mozart, Tchaikovsky & Albeniz, Fri 6 Oct, Wade Street Church, Lichfield

CARDUCCI QUARTET Programme

includes works by Mozart, Beethoven & Dvorak, Fri 6 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

SALVADOR SANCHEZ PIANO CONCERT

Programme comprises the complete Granados Goyescas Op. 11(or Los majos enamorados – ‘The Gallants in Love’), Sat 7 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

ORGAN RECITAL WITH DAVID THOMAS

Sat 7 Oct, Shrewsbury Abbey

JOO YEON SIR (VIOLIN - PICTURED) & IRINA ANDRIEVSKY (PIANO) Programme includes works by Vitali, Kreisler, Grieg & Frolov, Sat 7 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

TYLER HAY PIANO CONCERT Programme includes works by Beethoven, Thalberg, Debussy & Mussorgsky, Sat 7 Oct, St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, South Shropshire

CBSO FAMILY CONCERT: FAIRY TALES

Featuring Kazuki Yamada (conductor), Casey Bailey (presenter). Programme includes works by Ravel, Harrison & Grieg, Sun 8 Oct, Symphony Hall, B’ham

LONDON CONCERTANTE Programme includes works by Mozart, VaughanWilliams & Vivaldi, Sun 8 Oct, Lichfield Cathedral

CHRISTOPHER CLARKE HARP

Programme includes works by N. Rota, Ravel, Britten, Debussy, Louie, Tournier, Sun 8 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

ASHLEY WASS PIANO CONCERT

Programme includes works by Beethoven, A. Shor-M. Pletnev, J.S Bach & Shostakovich, Sun 8 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

BRITTEN OBOE QUARTET Programme includes works by Schubert, Thea Musgrace, Mozart & J.S Bach, Sun 8 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

Comedy

CÎRJE, FLORIN, DOBROTĂ & POPINCIUC Sun 1 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

BRIDGET CHRISTIE Sun 1 Oct, Old Rep, Birmingham

PETE K MALLY, BILLY M JACK + ELECTRIC BLACK Sun 1 Oct, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent

JENNY ECLAIR Sun 1 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

JASON BYRNE Sun 1 Oct, Aston Hall, Wrexham

JOSH PUGH, GARY DELANEY, ANDY ROBINSON & COMIC TBC Tues 3 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JEN BRISTER Tues 3 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

RIA LINA Wed 4 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

TIFF STEVENSON, ED PATRICK, EMMANUEL SONUBI & JO ENRIGHT Wed 4 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

SARAH MILLICAN Wed 4 Oct, Stafford

Gatehouse Theatre

COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY

ROBINSON, RAY BRADSHAW & COMIC

TBC Thurs 5 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JONNY PELHAM WILSON, DOMINIC

HATTON WOODS, KEVIN MCDONNELL & DAVE TWENTYMAN Thurs 5 Oct,

Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs

SOL BERNSTEIN Thurs 5 Oct, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

RICH WILSON, ADAM BEARDSMORE, DAN SMITH & COMIC TBC Thurs 5 Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall

PETE FIRMAN Thurs 5 Oct, Theatre

Severn, Shrewsbury

SEANN WALSH Thurs 5 - Fri 6 Oct, Old Rep, Birmingham

DAWN FRENCH Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome

TOM DAVIS Fri 6 Oct, Birmingham

Town Hall

JOSH JONES Fri 6 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

STEVE ROYLE, MAUREEN YOUNGER, RAY

BRADSHAW, AURIE STYLA & AJAY ROSE

Fri 6 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

PETER KAY Fri 6 Oct, Utilita Arena

Birmingham

DALISO CHAPONDA, MARTIN DURCHOU, MICHAEL MCKENZIE & DYLAN DODDS Fri

6 Oct, Two Gates Club, Tamworth

STEPHEN BAILEY, DAN ANTOPOLSKI, LOUISE YOUNG & WAYNE BEESE Fri 6 Oct, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

JOE ROWNTREE, STEVE HARRIS, TAL DAVIES & ANGELOS EPITHEMIOU Fri 6 Oct, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

SARAH MILLICAN Fri 6 Oct, Aston Hall, Wrexham

CARL HUTCHINSON Sat 7 Oct, Old Rep, Birmingham

ADAM ROWE Sat 7 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

JASON BYRNE Sun 8 Oct, Birmingham

Town Hall

JAMIE HUTCHINSON Sun 8 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

ALFIE MOORE Sun 8 Oct, Old Rep, Birmingham

CARL HUTCHINSON Sun 8 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Theatre

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE A ‘thrilling adventure’ of fantasy, myth and friendship, taking audiences on a journey to a childhood once forgotten, and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it... until Sat 30 Sept, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

84 CHARING CROSS ROAD Amateur version presented by the Lichfield Players, until Sat 30 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

WEST SIDE STORY Amateur version presented by Brownhills Musical Theatre Company, until Sat 30 Sept, Lichfield Garrick

SISTER ACT Lesley Joseph stars as Mother Superior in the heavenly smash-hit musical, until Sat 30 Sept, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

CONFETTI Will Jackson presents his one-man show celebrating the gay best friend, Sat 30 Sept, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

TOM STADE Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Bilston

Town Hall

ERIC RUSHTON Sat 7 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

STEVE ROYLE, MAUREEN YOUNGER, RAY

BRADSHAW & AURIE STYLA Sat 7 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

MACBETH Reuben Joseph takes the lead in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, until Sat 14 Oct, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon

SINATRA THE MUSICAL Brand-new production exploring the life (on and off stage) of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra. Matt Doyle stars in the lead role, until Sat 28 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

Dawn French - Birmingham Hippodrome

thelist

theatre, meme and pop culture, Sat 7 Oct, Thimblemill Library, Smethwick DIANE’S DELI - A TALE FROM PARADISE HEIGHTS Adult themes and strong language feature in this multi-layered drama penned by The Haunting Of Blaine Manor author, Joe O’Byrne, Sat 7 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Dance

ASTLEY’S ASTOUNDING ADVENTURES An action-packed production telling the story of the Newcastle-upon-Lyme hero who invented the circus, until Sat 21 Oct, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Tracy-Ann

Oberman stars in a powerful reimagining which places Shakespeare’s play in 1936 Londona time when fascism is on the rise across the whole of England... until Sat 10 Feb, Swan Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon

WAR OF THE WORLDS (ON A BUDGET) An abridged version of the HG Wells classic, featuring ‘one actor, a loop pedal, ukulele, lots of cardboard, many hats and terrifying tripod puppets’, Sun 1 Oct, Theatre, Severn, Shrewsbury

LA BAMBA! The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran and Strictly star Pasha Kovalev star in a brand-new musical about a young girl with a big voice, big dreams and an even bigger heart, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Oct, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

MOUNTAIN MUSIC A ‘theatrical feast’ of tales and songs, providing a tapestry of culture, migration and history...

Wed 4 Oct, Whitchurch Rugby Club, North Shropshire

WANTED Gazebo Theatre present a new play telling the stories of five extraordinary women who share a passion for standing up for what’s right, Wed 4 - Thurs 5 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

TO BEGIN THE WORLD OVER AGAIN: THE LIFE OF THOMAS PAINE A one-man show telling the very personal story of an 18th-century rock star... Thurs 5 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

ALAN TURING - A MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY New musical which journeys through the extraordinary life of the man who had a major input into computer science, Thurs 5 - Sun 7 Oct, The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham

AN EVENING WITH ANTON DU BEKE An evening of song, dance and laughter hosted by the Strictly judge, Mon 2 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre AILEY 2: THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE Presented by exceptional, early-career dance talent from the US. Programme features Francesca Harper’s futuristic Freedom Series (excerpt), Robert Battle’s The Hunt, William Forsythe’s Enemy In The Figure (excerpt), and Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations, Tues 3Wed 4 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome

Light

Entertainment

FOIL, ARMS & HOG An evening with one of the internet’s most renowned comedy sketch groups, Sun 1 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome

SING-A-LONG-A ENCANTO A screening of the hit musical, complete with interactive elements, Sun 1 Oct, The Alexandra, Birmingham

SING-A-LONG-A THE GREATEST

SHOWMAN Join a live host, who will teach you a unique set of dance moves and how to use the interactive prop bags, Sun 1 Oct, The Alexandra, Birmingham

OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL Featuring a new collection of the world’s most incredible ocean films, Tues 3 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

‘Crash’ Craddock and others from the cricket world, Fri 6 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

PORNO World premiere set 15 years after Trainspotting. Find out what’s become of Renton, Sickboy, Begbie & Spud. Contains swearing, sexual language and drug/violence-related subject matter, Fri 6 Oct, Crewe

Lyceum Theatre

AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE Expect fun, feathers and fabulous costumes in a fusion of cabaret, comedy, music, circus and burlesque, Sat 7 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

SHEILA’S MENTAL HEALTH SHOW: GUILT Registered mental-health counsellor Sheila McMahon ‘performs her unique brand of mental-health comedy, along with songs and stories’, Sat 7 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

OFF MENU: LIVE Ed Gamble and James Acaster’s award-winning podcast, live on stage for the first time, Sun 8 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome

OVERLOOKED MUSICALS A cast of West End singers perform their favourite ‘overlooked’ songs from both popular and less well-known musicals, Sun 8 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

Talks & Spoken Word

FAMILY HISTORY WITH DNA DETECTIVE, PROFESSOR TURI KING Join the copresenter of BBC Two series DNA Family Secrets as she uncovers how DNA has revolutionised genealogy and forensics, Sat 2 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

ANTIQUES AND A LITTLE BIT OF NONSENSE An evening with four of the country’s favourite television personalities from the world of antiques: Charlie Ross, Christine Trevanion, Charles Hanson & Phil Serrell, Mon 2 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

IKARIA A love story about finding salvation in someone else, Tues 3 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

MOUNTAIN MUSIC A ‘theatrical feast’ of tales and songs, providing a tapestry of culture, migration and history...

Tues 3 Oct, Wem Town Hall, North

Shropshire

BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL New staging of Helen Forrester’s period drama, Tues 3 - Wed 4 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL Brandnew production of the Gary Barlow & Tim Firth musical starring Tanya Franks, Maureen Nolan, Lyn Paul, Amy Robbins, Paula Tappenden, Marti Webb & Honeysuckle Weeks, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Oct, The Alexandra, Birmingham

MOUNTAIN MUSIC A ‘theatrical feast’ of tales and songs, providing a tapestry of culture, migration and history... Fri 6 Oct, SpArC, Bishops Castle, South Shropshire

LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR A nostalgic evening of back-to-back hits from the 1950s and ’60s, Thurs 5 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

SONGSTERS & SONS Featuring male voice group the Gentlemen Songsters and special guests The Sons of Pitches, Fri 6 Oct, Dudley Town Hall

DREAMCOAT STARS Keith Jack (BBC’s Any Dream Will Do) headlines a cast of performers in a mega-mix production celebrating West End and Broadway musical theatre classics, Fri 6 Oct, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

AN EVENING WITH JUNIOR HEMANS

Leaders from some of the UK’s most prominent industries share their own personal pathways and ambitions. Guest speakers include The Amos Bursary, The Prince’s Trust, NHS Wolverhampton and The Wolves Foundation, Wed 4 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

GROUND RULES Eric Chappell’s poignant comedy and final play, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Tamworth Assembly Rooms

A REAL FICTION aKa Dance Theatre present a hyperactive mix of dance,

JACK’S ASHES A humorous insight into the mental frailties that can cloud the mind - performed by Tim Marriott (BBCTV’s The Brittas Empire) with recorded contributions from David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, Shane Watson,

CARLTON KIRBY’S TRUE TALES OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE ‘The voice of cycling’ shares tall tales and frank opinions from his 25 years in the commentary box, Wed 4 Oct, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

THE MYTH OF SERIAL KILLER PROFILING With crime expert Professor Jackson, Sun 8 Oct, Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock

By The Waters Of Liverpool - Lichfield Garrick

Events

OKTOBERFEST Featuring themed entertainment for all ages and the chance to ride a selection of rollercoasters and family favourites, until Sun 1 Oct, Alton Towers, Staffordshire

PUMPKIN PICKING Visit your favourite animals at the farm, then grab your wheelbarrow and head to the pumpkin field, until Sun 29 Oct, Forge Mill Farm, West Bromwich

HISTORIC RALLY FESTIVAL Featuring up to 60 specially selected cars, 30 Sept - Sun 1 Oct, Weston Park, Shropshire

BRICK OR TREAT: MONSTER PARTY Get into the Halloween spirit with some fang-tastic activities, Sat 30 SeptSun 5 Nov, Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham

GAIA Touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram, until Sun 5 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire

BRICK OR TREAT: MONSTER PARTY

Spooktacular activities, including a ‘scarevenger’ hunt, a Lego pumpkin patch and more, until Sun 5 Nov, Legoland Discovery Centre, Birmingham

FAMILY FUSING: FUSED GLASS

MONSTERS Use small pieces of glass and powders to create two fused glass ‘spooks’, Sun 1 Oct, Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge

TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Featuring more than 500 stalls packed with thousands of new and old collectables for sale, Sun 1 Oct, NEC, Birmingham

STORM & SCOOTER’S SPOOKY STORY

Young explorers can dive into the fascinating world of conservation through ‘the hair-raising tale of Storm & Scooter’s monkey relatives’, Sun 1 - Tues 31 Oct, Trentham Monkey Forest, Staffordshire

HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW 2023 The biggest week of the year for equestrian entertainment, Wed 4Sun 8 Oct, NEC, Birmingham

GRAND DESIGNS LIVE Access inspiration and expert advice for your next building project, Wed 4 - Sun 8 Oct, NEC, Birmingham

THINKTANK TASTER TOUR Guided tour of a selection of the Visitor Service Team’s favourite items, Thurs 5 Oct, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

HALLOWEEN AT DRAYTON MANOR Live entertainment, ‘terrific’ Halloween trails, and your favourite rides and attractions, Thurs 5 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, Drayton Manor Resort, Nr Tamworth

DARTS MASTERS EVENING World champions compete in a round-robin competition, Fri 6 Oct, Uttoxeter

Racecourse

SHROPSHIRE OKTOBERFEST Featuring over 180 real ales, ciders, gins, wine,

cocktails and more, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury

OKTOBERFEST Bavarian-style festival, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Trentham Estate, Staffordshire

ASTON AFTER DARK: GHOST TOUR An evening of ghostly tales in one of Britain’s most haunted mansions, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Oct, Aston Hall, Birmingham

FUN PALACE FAMILY OPEN DAY Explore the theatre and learn new skills, Sat 7 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

BET365 RACING WITH WOLVERHAMPTON

PRIDE A day of live horse racing, complete with LGBT+ friendly entertainment & activities, Sat 7 Oct, Wolverhampton Racecourse

BIRMINGHAM SEASONAL MARKETS

PRESENTS: OKTOBERFEST FOOD FEST

‘Delicious food, German beers, and a lively atmosphere’, Sat 7 Oct, The Bond, Digbeth

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS Featuring athletes from all over Shropshire, Wales and the West Midlands, Sat 7 Oct, British Ironworks Centre, Oswestry, North Shropshire

RIDE TO THE WALL 2023 Thousands of motorcyclists from around the UK come together to remember the names engraved on the walls of the Armed Forces Memorial, Sat 7 Oct, National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

ARTISAN, CRAFT AND GIFT MARKET

Makers, creators & enterprises from across the region converge to provide a rich, diverse and unique shopping experience, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, Bantock House, Wolverhampton

GUIDED TOUR OF WEOLEY CASTLE

Explore Weoley Castle with experienced guides and check out real finds from the site, back on display for the first time in over 10 years, Sat 7 Oct, Weoley Castle, Birmingham

THEATRE TOUR Get a unique insight into one of the most historic theatres in the West Midlands, Sat 7 Oct, The Alexandra, Birmingham

GHOST SEARCH A ghost walk around the medieval castle, with vigils conducted in reputedly haunted rooms, Sat 7 Oct, Tamworth Castle

SCAREFEST Including the venue’s award-winning spooktacular scare experiences, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, Alton Towers, Staffordshire

PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS Hop on the trailer ride to pick your pumpkin from the patch, then carve it in the indoor carving barn, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge, Staffordshire

O GAUGE GET TOGETHER Check out some of the UK’s award-winning O Gauge layouts and dioramas, Sat 7Sun 8 Oct, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

PUMPKINS & ALPACAS Choose from

Shropshire Oktoberfest - The Quarry Park, Shrewsbury

over 5,000 pumpkins before meeting the Wetley Moor alpacas, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Oct, Tunstall Farm Park, Staffordshire

ASCARIUM: TRICKS & TREATS Follow an immersive trail to help the witches

and warlocks find their missing potion ingredients. Discover some of the spookiest creatures of the sea, Sun 8 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham

thelist

Gigs

STARBENDERS Mon 9

Oct, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

LEVEL 42 Mon 9 Oct, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent

SIOBHAN MILLER Mon 9

Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

FREYA RIDINGS Tues 10

Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

GARY NUMAN Tues 10

Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

Thurs 12 Oct, Foxlowe

Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs

ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS

Fri 13 Oct, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

HARD-FI + TOM A.

SMITH Fri 13 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

SANCTUM SANCTORIUM

Fri 13 Oct, O2

Academy, Birmingham

CASH... A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH Fri 13

Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

NASHVILLE IN CONCERT

Fri 13 Oct, Resorts

World Arena, B’ham

UPBEAT BEATLES Fri 13

Oct, Dudley Town Hall

OASIS V THE STONE

ROSES - DEFINITELY

MIGHTBE & ADORED Fri

13 Oct, The River Rooms, Stourbridge

13 - Sat 14 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

PICTURE THIS Sat 14

Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

AFFLECK’S PALACE +

JEALOUS NOSTRIL Sat

14 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

ANTARCTIC MONKEYS

Sat 14 Oct, O2

Academy, Birmingham

BLACK WATER FIEND + MONASTERY +

CROWNED HYENAS +

SERENITY Sat 14 Oct, O2 Academy, B’ham

BLINK-182 + THE STORY

SO FAR Sat 14 Oct, Utilita Arena B’ham

AJAY SRIVASTAV Sat 14

Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall

SWEDE DREAMZ - ABBA

Classical Music

LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH THOMAS TROTTER Programme includes works by JS Bach, K Volans, H Willan, W Wolstenholme & R Laurin, Mon 9 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

SONNETS AND RHYMES Featuring Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo-soprano), Edgar Francis (viola) & Jáms Coleman (piano). Programme includes works by Brahms, Rubbra, Joseph Marx, Bliss, Michael Berkeley and Héloïse Werner, Wed 11 Oct, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

RUSSELL WATSON IN CONCERT Thurs 12 Oct, Lichfield Cathedral

JOSH PUGH Tues 10 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

DAN HAGLEY Tues 10 Oct, Lichfield

Garrick

JACK SKIPPER Wed 11 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

NORMAN LOVETT, ERIC RUSHTON, DAMON CONLAN, RICHARD DADD, MAT

TAYLOR & HANNAH WEETMAN Wed 11 Oct, The Irish Centre, Birmingham

MARK WATSON Wed 11 Oct, Midlands

Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

ED BYRNE Wed 11 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

SARAH MILLICAN Wed 11 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY

ROBINSON, STEVE GRIBBIN & SUSIE

MCCABE Thurs 12 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

RHYS JAMES Thurs 12 Oct, Old Rep, Birmingham

RACHEL FAIRBURN Thurs 12 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

KEITH ST JOHN Tues 10

Oct, The Station, Cannock

HENGE Wed 11 Oct, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND + DASHBOARD

CONFESSIONAL Wed 11

Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

JARED JAMES NICHOLS + DEWOLFF + DOOMSDAY OUTLAW

Wed 11 Oct, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

THE WONDER OF STEVIE

Wed 11 Oct, Stafford

Gatehouse Theatre

PLEIADES Thurs 12 Oct, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

CORY WONG FEAT

ANTWAUN STANLEY + SECRET NIGHT GANG

Thurs 12 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

DON TOLIVER Thurs 12 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

THE DRIFTERS Thurs 12

Oct, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre

ABBAMANIA Thurs 12

Oct, Halesowen Town Hall

PETER HOOK & THE

LIGHT Thurs 12 Oct,

KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

TOMBSTONE DUNNERY

Thurs 12 Oct, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent

FAIRPORT CONVENTION

THE CLAUSE Fri 13 Oct,

Newhampton Arts

Centre, Wolverhampton

THOSE DAMN CROWS +

THE CRUEL KNIVES Fri

13 Oct, The Wulfrun at The Halls

Wolverhampton

WHEATUS Fri 13 Oct,

The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent

U2UK Fri 13 Oct,

Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent

HELIAN Fri 13 Oct,

Fenton Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

THE HOLLIES Fri 13 Oct, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent

THE BOHEMIANS - QUEEN

TRIBUTE Fri 13 Oct, Brewhouse Arts

Centre, Burton upon Trent

THE BON JOVI

EXPERIENCE Fri 13 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

ELO EXPERIENCE Fri 13

Oct, The Prince Of Wales, Cannock

THE ROD STEWART STORY Fri 13 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

A FOREIGNER’S JOURNEY Fri 13 Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

VOODOO SIOUX Fri 13

Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

INTO THE SHADOWS Fri

TRIBUTE Sat 14 Oct, The River Rooms, Stourbridge

INCA BABIES + TURNING

BLACK LIKE LIZARDS Sat

14 Oct, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

WARD KNUTUR TOWNES

Sat 14 Oct, Newhampton Arts

Centre, W’hampton

THE HOLLIES Sat 14

Oct, The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

HYBRID THEORY - LINKIN

PARK TRIBUTE Sat 14

Oct, Eleven, Stoke-onTrent

THE SOUND OF SPRINGSTEEN Sat 14

Oct, Lichfield Garrick

THE ECLECTIC Sat 14

Oct, The Feathers Inn, Lichfield

LITTLE MIX TRIBUTE

WITH LITTLE FIX Sat 14

Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO Sat 14 Oct, Telford Theatre, Shropshire

THE ROD STEWART

STORY Sat 14 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

TERRY REID Sun 15

Oct, The Robin, Bilston

ROKTOBERFEST Sun 15

Oct, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

JUST MY IMAGINATIONTHE MUSIC OF THE TEMPTATIONS Sun 15

Oct, Lichfield Garrick

RACHMANINOFF PIANO CONCERTO NO.2

WITH JENEBA KANNEH-MASON & THE CBSO Featuring Andrew Gourlay (conductor). Programme includes works by Coleridge-Taylor, Rachmaninoff & Wagner, Thurs 12 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

ALFIE BOE IN CONCERT Sat 14 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

SHREWSBURY CHORAL SOCIETY

AUTUMN CONCERT Programme comprises Handel’s Coronation Anthems & Stopford’s Missa ‘Deus Nobiscum’, Sat 14 Oct, Shrewsbury Abbey

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA: A NIGHT AT THE OPERA Featuring The Ceramic City Choir, Anthony Rose & Joe Hearson (conductors) & Hannah Ruth McDonald (soprano). Programme includes works by Mozart, Wagner, Bizet, Puccini & Verdi, Sat 14 Oct, King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

SONORO QUARTET Programme includes works by Haydn, Shostakovich & Annelies van Parys new work, Sun 15 Oct, Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

EX CATHEDRA: RACHMANINOFF 150: VESPERS Featuring Jeffrey Skidmore (conductor), Martha McLorinan (mezzo soprano), James Robinson (tenor) & Simone Rebello (bells), Sun 15 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

Comedy

ROSIE JONES Mon 9 Oct, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

ROGER MONKHOUSE, DANNY

MCLOUGHLIN, TAL DAVIES & EDDY

BRIMSON Thurs 12 Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

SOPHIE MCCARTNEY Thurs 12 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

LIAM WITHNAIL, MATT REES, STEVE GRIBBIN, SUSIE MCCABE & CHARLIE

LEWIS Fri 13 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

PAUL FOOT Fri 13 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

TRIXX, LOYISO GOLA & SIKISA Fri 13 Oct, Bilston Town Hall

STAN BOARDMAN Fri 13 Oct, Halesowen Town Hall

RUBY WAX Fri 13 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

JACK GLEADOW, SARAH JOHNSON, MICHAEL LEGGE & MATT STELLINGWERF Fri 13 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

SCOTT BENNETT Sat 14 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

PAUL FOOT Sat 14 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

ED BYRNE Sat 14 Oct, Walsall Arena

TRAVIS JAY, LOYISO GOLA, TRIXX, KAT BOYCE & LOVELL SMITH Sun 15 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

PAUL WHITEHOUSE, SHAZIA MIRZA, JOHN SIMMIT, GEOFF SCHUMANN & COMIC TBC Sun 15 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

Theatre

HALF WAY ‘ROUND THE BEND’ An ‘unflinchingly honest and cheerfully anarchic fusion of contemporary writing and standup comedy’ that explores ‘what it really means to live, work and thrive with mental illness’, Tues 10 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

Smash-hit musical featuring Ivano Turco as Jamie and John Partridge as Hugo/Loco Chanelle, Tues 10Sat 14 Oct, Birmingham Hippodrome

ANNIE Craig Revel Horwood (TuesFri) and Jodie Prenger (Sat) star as Miss Hannigan in the rags-to-riches tale of orphan Annie and her journey to a better life, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

GLORIOUS! Stoke Rep Players present an amateur version of Peter Quilter’s story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the worst singer in the world, Tues 10Sat 14 Oct, Stoke Repertory Theatre

MURDER ON THE NILE Presented by Ambient Night Productions, Wed 11Thurs 12 Oct, Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock

KINKY BOOTS Amateur version presented by Get Your Wigle On, Wed 11 - Sat 14 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

FEEL ME The Paper Birds fuse live performance, film, projection, dance & music to explore how we connect to stories in the modern digital world, Thurs 12 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

GROUND RULES Eric Chappell’s poignant comedy and final play, Thurs 12 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

THE BOBBY KENNEDY EXPERIENCE A play about the most famous man never to become President of the United States, Thurs 12 Oct, Whitchurch Civic Centre, North Shropshire

DRIFTWOOD A Pentabus and Thickstein co-production of Tim Foley’s new play about family drifts and political divides, Thurs 12 - Fri 13 Oct, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Amateur version of Mel Brooks’ musical take on the classic horror story, Thurs 12Sat 21 Oct, Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

MUM’S THE WORD Cheryl Fergison, Sarita Plowman & Poppy Tierney star in an uplifting show about ‘navigating motherhood and the drama life throws at you’, Fri 13 Oct, Malvern

Theatres

THE BOBBY KENNEDY EXPERIENCE A play about the most famous man never to become President, Fri 13 Oct, Habberley Village Hall, Shropshire

BERLIOZ: BEATRICE AND BENEDICT Mid Wales Opera’s production based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Fri 13 Oct, SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle, South Shropshire

WHAT’S YOUR POISON? A new play about real-life 19th century doctor William Palmer, and the unexplained deaths of many of those around him... Sat 14 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

THE BOBBY KENNEDY EXPERIENCE A play about the most famous man never to become President of the United States, Sat 14 Oct, Wem Town Hall, North Shropshire

Kids Theatre

THE KING OF NOTHING Monstro Theatre present an anarchic work of musical puppet theatre inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, Sun 15 Oct, Bilston Town Hall

THERE’S A TIGER IN THE GARDEN Flock Theatre Makers presents a musical theatre adaptation of Lizzy Stewart’s award-winning children’s book, Sun 15 Oct, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

Dance

UNKNOWN REALMS ACE Dance & Music double bill featuring contrasting works examining the past and present, Tues 10 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

EMERALD STORM Irish dance and modern tap combine in a story about the conflicts of human nature, Fri 13 Oct, Tamworth Assembly Rooms

Light Entertainment

QUEENZ: THE SHOW WITH BALLS Live vocal drag extravaganza featuring over 30 camp classics, Wed 11 Oct, Telford Theatre

Monday 9 - Sunday 15 October

Clungunford Village Hall, South Shropshire

FLEETWOOD (MAC) BY CANDLELIGHT A cast of West End singers and a live band perform Fleetwood Mac’s greatest hits, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Oct, Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire

FUNNY GIRLS HALLOWEEN SHOW

FEATURING BETTY LEGS DIAMOND Join Betty and her crypt kicker dancers for a spooky spectacle. Note that all children must be accompanied by an adult, Sat 14 Oct, Mitchell Arts Centre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent WEST END TO BROADWAY Presented by Newport Musical Theatre Academy, Sat 14 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Talks & Spoken Word

AN AUDIENCE WITH LUCY WORSLEY: AGATHA CHRISTIE Join ‘the queen of history’ as she shares stories from the fascinating life of ‘the queen of crime’, Mon 9 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

IOLO WILLIAMS: A CAREER IN CONVERSATION A familiar face on TV, Iola here recounts tales from both his childhood and working career, Mon 9 Oct, Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire

FAMILY HISTORY WITH DNA DETECTIVE, PROFESSOR TURI KING Join the copresenter of BBC Two series DNA Family Secrets as she uncovers how DNA has revolutionised genealogy and forensics, Wed 11 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

THE MIRACLE MAN: AN AUDIENCE WITH IAN HUTCHINSON & JAMES WHITHAM

Ian & James open up about the top level of motorbike racing, Thurs 12 Oct, Telford Theatre

DOUG ALLAN - IT’S A WRAP Join the wildlife cameraman as he looks back over his 35 years of natural history filmmaking, Sun 15 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

SCAREFEST Including the venue’s award-winning spooktacular scare experiences, Fri 13 - Tues 31 Oct, Alton Towers, Staffordshire

PUMPKINFEST Halloween activities, including Pumpkin Alley, The Little Scare House and a Spooky Trail, Fri 13 Oct - Sat 4 Nov, Park Hall Farm, Shropshire

GANDEYS CIRCUS A brand-new Halloween Spooktacular Big Top show for all the family, Fri 13 OctSun 5 Nov, Trentham Estate, Staffordshire

MURDER MYSTERY DINING EXPERIENCE

- A FOWL MURDER Crack the clues, enjoy a four-course dining experience and travel along the railway, Sat 14 Oct, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

GUIDED BACKSTAGE TOURS Take a sneak peek backstage and meet the technical and creative teams, Sat 14 Oct, Lichfield Garrick, Staffordshire

HALLOWEEN HARVEST Pull on your wellies to hear the scarecrow story, then follow the trail to find the Apley scarecrows, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, Apley Farm Shop, Shropshire

PUMPKINS & ALPACAS Choose from over 5,000 pumpkins before meeting the Wetley Moor alpacas, Sat 14Sun 15 Oct, Tunstall Farm Park, Staffordshire

SPOOKTACULAR Enjoy a selection of Halloween activities, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, National Forest Adventure Farm, Staffordshire

THE NATIONAL SNOW SHOW

Inspirational speakers, cutting-edge technologies and the best in gear, all under one roof, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, NEC, Birmingham

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE: WERQ THE WORLD Featuring fan favourite drag queens Bimini Bon-Boulash, Aquaria, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Bosco, Daya Betty, Kandy Muse & Ginger Minj, Thurs 12 Oct, Utilita Arena Birmingham

YIPPEE KI YAY Richard Marsh’s acclaimed retelling of classic action movie Die Hard, Thurs 12 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

NIKIPEDIA - CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER

TELETUBBY ‘A whirlwind tour through the worlds of music, dance, the early days of alternative comedy, the rough end of 1980s London and the fun of 1990s Teletubbyland’, Fri 13 Oct,

Events

THINKTANK TASTER TOUR Guided tour of a selection of the Visitor Service Team’s favourite items, Wed 11 Oct, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

DRONE COPS Hour-long talk by West Midlands Police’s drone unit, Thurs 12 Oct, West Midlands Police Museum, Birmingham

PUMPKIN PICKING Visit your favourite animals at the farm, then grab your wheelbarrow and head to the pumpkin field, Fri 13 - Sun 29 Oct, Forge Mill Farm, West Bromwich

THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS

SHOW Featuring over 900 traders, dealers and autojumble stands offering a wealth of parts and spares for every project, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Oct, Staffordshire County Showground

PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS Hop on the trailer ride to pick your pumpkin from the patch, then carve it in the indoor carving barn, Sat 14 - Tues 31 Oct, Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge, Staffordshire

PUMPKIN PATCH Enjoy lots of spooky family fun as you hunt high and low for the perfect pumpkin, Sat 14 - Tues 31 Oct, Trentham Estate, Staffs

THE LUDLOW PUMPKIN PATCH Choose a pumpkin from the four-acre patch, Sat 14 - Tues 31 Oct, Downton Hall Estate Ludlow, South Shropshire

thelist

Gigs

SQUID Mon 16 Oct,

Birmingham Town Hall

ACCELER8 BAND Mon 16

Oct, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

GARETH GATES - THE BEST OF FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS

Mon 16 Oct, Theatre

Severn, Shrewsbury

SPEECH DEBELLE Tues

17 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES + THE NIGHTMARES

Tues 17 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

RIVAL SONS + L.A.

EDWARDS Tues 17 Oct, O2 Academy, B’ham

BELLAH MAE Wed 18

Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

WATERLOO - A TRIBUTE

TO ABBA Wed 18 Oct,

Utilita Arena B’ham

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL - WHITNEY

HOUSTON TRIBUTE Wed

18 Oct, Theatre

Severn, Shrewsbury

GAVIN DEGRAW Thurs

19 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

LARRY JUNE Thurs 19

Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

LOST SOCIETY + DEAD

LABEL Thurs 19 Oct,

KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

PETE, ANNIE & ROB

Thurs 19 Oct, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

BACK INTO HELLMEATLOAF TRIBUTE

Thurs 19 Oct, The Prince Of Wales, Cannock

THE WONDER OF STEVIE

Thurs 19 Oct, Theatre

Severn, Shrewsbury

LITTLE MAN TATE + THE INSTITUTES + SHAMBOLICS Fri 20 Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham

KEZIA GILL Fri 20 Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham

MAHALIA Fri 20 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

POP-PUNK! ON BRASS Fri 20 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

BEN PORTSMOUTH - THIS

IS ELVIS Fri 20 Oct,

Monday 16 - Sunday 22 October

Classical Music

PETER DYKE ORGAN RECITAL Tues 17 Oct, Lichfield Cathedral

LUDOVICO EINAUDI Featuring special guest Sam Lee. Programme includes tracks from Underwater - 12 newly composed solo piano tracks, Wed 18 Oct, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham

LINDSEY SANTORO & WAYNE BEESE Sat 21 Oct, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

ALFIE MOORE Sat 21 Oct, Bilston Town Hall

PETER FRANCIS, RICHARD BLACKWOOD, SLIM, AURIE STYLA, DANA ALEXANDER, THENJIWE & ANNETTE FAGON Sun 22 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

Theatre

Dudley Town Hall

BRIAN STONE + THE MASTERS OF NONE +

RUBY KELLY Fri 20 Oct, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

WHITNEY - QUEEN OF THE NIGHT Fri 20 Oct, The Civic at The Halls

Wolverhampton

ABBAMANIA Fri 20 Oct, The Prince Of Wales, Cannock

BON GIOVI Fri 20 Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

GINGER PLAYS THE WILDHEARTS Fri 20

Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

WYRES + TRIERS Fri 20

Oct, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

RICK WILSON & JO

JUKES Fri 20 Oct, Hermon Arts, Oswestry, North Shropshire

HERE AT LAST Sat 21

Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

ANDREW CUSHIN Sat 21 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE CLONE ROSES + DEFINITELY MIGHTBE + THE JAMES EXPERIENCE Sat 21 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

BRASS AGAINST Sat 21

Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Sat 21 Oct,

Birmingham Town Hall

CALLING PLANET EARTH

Sat 21 Oct, Dudley Town Hall

GLENN HUGHES + THE DAMN TRUTH Sat 21

Oct, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

EUROPE Sat 21 Oct, The Civic at The Halls

Squid - Birmingham Town Hall

Wolverhampton

TIGERCUB Sat 21 Oct, The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent

SCOUTING FOR GIRLS

Sat 21 Oct, Keele University, Stoke-onTrent

MARTIN SIMPSON Sat 21 Oct, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

UK PINK FLOYD

EXPERIENCE Sat 21 Oct, The Prince Of Wales, Cannock

LORNE LOFSKY/NIGEL

PRICE QUARTET Sat 21

Oct, The Hive, Shrewsbury

BROKEN JAW + NAMELESS + HAEMA Sat 21

Oct, Percy’s Cafe Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

THE BLUETONES Sun 22 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

CODY PENNINGTON

COUNTRY SHOW Sun 22 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE JAPANESE HOUSE

Sun 22 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

THE WATERBOYS Sun 22 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

SMOKIN GUN Sun 22

Oct, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

THE STORY OF GUITAR HEROES Sun 22 Oct, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent

STEPHEN FEARING Sun 22 Oct, The Hive, Shrewsbury

BEN PORTSMOUTH - THIS IS ELVIS Sun 22 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

KENNETH HAMILTON PIANO RECITAL Programme includes works by Chopin & Liszt, arr. Busoni, Fri 20 Oct, Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham

BBC PHILHARMONIC Featuring Anna Handler (conductor) & Steven Osbourne (soloist). Programme includes works by Dvorak, Beethoven & Tchaikovsky, Fri 20 Oct, Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC

ORCHESTRA: 80TH ANNIVERSARY

CONCERT Programme includes works by Elgar & Beethoven, Sun 22 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

BEN CARLTON & ROBIN GREEN IN CONCERT Programme includes works by Beethoven, Poulenc, Schumann & Janacek, Sun 22 Oct, Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire

INTERNATIONAL PIANO RECITAL: DINARA KLINTON Programme includes works by Schumann & Brahms, Sun 22 Oct, St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury

Comedy

JACKIE FABULOUS Tues 17 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

SHANE TODD Tues 17 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

STEFF TODD Wed 18 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JIMEOIN Wed 18 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY

ROBINSON, LOST VOICE GUY & IAN

COPPINGER Thurs 19 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

SOPHIE MCCARTNEY Thurs 19 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

JAY LAFFERTY, LOST VOICE GUY, GAVIN

WEBSTER, IAN COPPINGER & JON

CAPEWELL Fri 20 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

SEAN COLLINS Fri 20 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JAY LAFFERTY, LOST VOICE GUY, GAVIN

WEBSTER & IAN COPPINGER Sat 21 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

KANE BROWN, KYRAH GRAY, LOYISO

GOLA & TRIXX Sat 21 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

MARK SIMMONS, MARKUS BIRDMAN,

MADE IN DAGENHAM THE MUSICAL

Amateur version presented by SAOS, Mon 16 - Sat 21 Oct,

Stourbridge Town Hall

SH!T FACED SHAKESPEARE: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING A combination of hacked-to-bits Shakespeare script, half a dozen professional actors and a bucketload of booze... Tues 17 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

OLIVER! Staffordshire’s Stage Productions present an amateur version of Lionel Bart’s smash-hit musical, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Oct, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL Amber Davie, Ore Odube and Oliver Savile star in this touring version of the smash-hit musical, Tues 17 - Sat 28 Oct, The Alexandra, Birmingham

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

- THE MUSICAL Roald Dahl’s iconic story is brought to the stage in a new production fusing memorable songs from the 1971 film with new numbers from the award-winning songwriters of Hairspray, Tues 17 Oct - Sun 5

Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome

SH!T FACED SHAKESPEARE: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING A combination of hacked-to-bits Shakespeare script, half a dozen professional actors and a bucketload of booze... Wed 18 Oct, Old Rep, Birmingham

CALENDAR GIRLS Musical Theatre

Stafford present an amateur version of the Gary Barlow & Tim Firth musical, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

MY FAIR LADY Tamworth Musical Theatre Company present an amateur version of Lerner & Loewe’s much-loved musical, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Oct, Tamworth Assembly Rooms WAR OF THE WORLDS (ON A BUDGET)

An abridged version of the HG Wells classic, ‘featuring one actor, a loop pedal, ukulele, lots of cardboard, many hats and terrifying tripod

thelist

puppets’, Thurs 19 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

SHADES OF THE PAST Meet men and women who’ve shaped the town’s history, Thurs 19 Oct, SpArC, Bishops Castle, South Shropshire

CRIMES ON CENTRE COURT Murder and mayhem combine in a tennis-themed whodunnit performed by New Old Friends, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

JEKYLL AND HYDE THE MUSICAL

Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Oct, Telford Theatre

WAR OF THE WORLDS (ON A BUDGET) An abridged version of the HG Wells classic, featuring ‘one actor, a loop pedal, ukulele, lots of cardboard, many hats and terrifying tripod puppets’, Fri 20 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

42 CROWNS A wry and quirky observation of the activities of various kings and queens through history, performed by four actors and a musician, Sat 21 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

SH!T FACED SHAKESPEARE: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING A combination of hacked-to-bits Shakespeare script, half a dozen professional actors and a bucketload of booze... Sat 21 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

WAR OF THE WORLDS (ON A BUDGET) An abridged version of the HG Wells classic, featuring ‘one actor, a loop pedal, ukulele, lots of cardboard, many hats and terrifying tripod puppets’, Sat 21 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

Kids Theatre

NEST M6 Theatre fuse clowning, original song and shadow play in a brand-new family show telling a tale about taking care, discovering what’s important and learning how to fly, Sat 21 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

TOM THUMB Classic children’s tale brought to life by Lyngo Theatre. Expect feathery spinning birds, a flying house and a portable forest, Sun 22 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND

Box Tale Soup take audiences into Lewis Carroll’s wondrous fantasy, Sun 22 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

THE MCDOUGALLS: SPACE ADVENTURE

Join Auntie Aggie and Max as they fly past the planets on an intergalactic musical expedition, Sun 22 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

Dance

MATTHEW BOURNE’S ROMEO & JULIET New Adventures’ critically acclaimed

production of Shakespeare’s timeless tale, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

GISELLE Romantic ballet in which love triumphs over betrayal. Presented by Classical Ballet & Opera House, Fri 20 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

INFUSION EMPORIUM 11 Vibrant show pushing the boundaries of bellydance, Sat 21 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

SWAN LAKE Presented by Classical Ballet & Opera House, Sat 21 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Light Entertainment

THE BEST OF FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS A musical journey through the career of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Gareth Gates stars, Mon 16 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

SPONTANEOUS POTTER An entirely improvised comedy play based on an audience suggestion of a fanfiction title, Tues 17 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

SPLASH TEST DUMMIES A wild aquatic ride featuring stunt work, acrobatics, juggling and slapstick comedy, Tues 17 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

AN EVENING WITH LAUREL & HARDY Neil Brand tells the touching story of the legendary comedy double-act, Fri 20 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

JURASSIC PARK 30TH ANNIVERSARY

LIVE IN CONCERT Watch the Stephen Spielberg classic in HD on a big screen while the Halle Orchestra perform John Williams’ iconic score live on stage, Sat 21 Oct, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham

DREAMCOAT STARS Keith Jack (BBC’s Any Dream Will Do) headlines a cast of performers in a mega-mix production celebrating West End and Broadway musical theatre classics, Sat 21 Oct, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? Leading man Adam - an actor turned paranormal investigator - unravels the legends of theatre ghosts, Sun 22 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

Talks & Spoken Word

AN EVENING WITH ADRIAN EDMONDSON A chance to hear the comedy legend’s back story - from strict Methodist upbringing and boarding school education, through to joining the comedy revolution and more... Tues 17 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

PHIL OKWEDY: THE GODS ARE ALL HERE

Join storyteller Phil as he interweaves myth, folktales and legends of the diaspora with a personal story to create ‘a compelling, funny and warm performance’, Thurs 19 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER Join Scottish detective David Swindle as he shares a unique insight into the minds of some of Britain’s notorious serial killers, Sat 21 Oct, Walsall Arena & Art Centre

Events

THE MOTORHOME AND CARAVAN SHOW

Explore the new 2024 motorhome, campervan, caravan and trailer tents from the leading UK and European manufacturers, Tues 17 - Sun 22 Oct, NEC, Birmingham

GANDEYS CIRCUS A brand-new Halloween Spooktacular Big Top show for all the family, Fri 20 OctSun 5 Nov, Merry Hill, Dudley

EXPLORE ASTON HALL Immerse yourself in 400 years of history in the Jacobean mansion, Sat 21 Oct, Aston Hall, Birmingham

DAY OF THE DEAD SKULL MASK MAKING ACTIVITY Create your very own Day of the Dead mask to take home, Sat 21 Oct, Stourbridge Glass Museum

SHROPSHIRE LAMB SUPPER Enjoy local produce and beer, Sat 21 Oct, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms

LINOCUT PRINTING Design your own unique linocut print with artist Annette Pugh, Sat 21 Oct, The New Art Gallery Walsall

PUMPKINS & ALPACAS Choose from over 5,000 pumpkins before meeting the Wetley Moor alpacas, Sat 21Sun 22 Oct, Tunstall Farm Park, Staffordshire

TUNNEL TOURS Unique opportunity to explore the fascinating tunnels beneath the Stourbridge Glass Museum, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct,

Stourbridge Glass Museum

HALLOWEEN HARVEST Pull on your wellies to hear the scarecrow story, then follow the trail to find the Apley scarecrows, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct, Apley Farm Shop, Shropshire

CHURCHFIELDS FARM PUMPKIN

FESTIVAL Pick your own pumpkin and carve it, enjoy pumpkin games, live entertainment and more, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct, Churchfields Farm, Droitwich

SPOOKTACULAR Enjoy a selection of Halloween activities, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Oct, National Forest Adventure Farm, Staffordshire

WITCHCRAFT WOODS Join Alderford’s school of witchcraft & wizardry, Sat 21 - Tues 31 Oct, Alderford Lake, Shropshire

SPOOKY SPECTACULAR Join Patch the pumpkin-scarecrow and his new friend, Mitzy Monster, Sat 21 OctSun 5 Nov, West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley

VICTORIAN VERMIN Rat-themed activities for all the family to ‘enjoy’! Sat 21 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

POTIONS AND NOTIONS Conjure up spooky clay creations to hold imaginary potions and spells, Sat 21 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, Coalport China Museum, Ironbridge

FREDDO’S SPOOKTACULAR STAGE SHOW

‘The spookiest live stage show in town’, Sat 21 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, Cadbury World, Bournville, Birmingham

Matthew Bourne’s Romeo & Juliet - Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

thelist

Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 October

THE HISTORY OF ROCK Fri 27 Oct, The Robin, Bilston

HAND OF DIMES + SAM

MILLAR & THE SASS

BANDITS Fri 27 Oct, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent

CARNIVWHORE Fri 27 Oct, The Underground, Stoke-on-Trent

THE HANGING STARS Fri 27 Oct, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs

JIVE TALKIN’ - BEE GEES

TRIBUTE Fri 27 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

ABSOLUTE BOWIE Fri 27 Oct, Tamworth

Assembly Rooms

Gigs

ELLIE GOULDING Mon 23

Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham

BRENT FAIYAZ Mon 23

Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

SHED SEVEN Mon 23

Oct, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

THY ART IS MURDER + WHITECHAPEL + FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY + SPITE

Tues 24 Oct, O2

Institute, Birmingham

SIXTIES GOLD Tues 24

Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

MAC AYRES Tues 24 Oct,

Mama Roux’s, B’ham

SHED SEVEN + THE SLOW READERS CLUB

Tues 24 Oct, The

Wulfrun at The Halls

Wolverhampton

IMAR Tues 24 Oct,

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

THE ROCK ORCHESTRA BY CANDLELIGHT Tues 24

Oct, Aston Hall, Wrexham

HAIRCUT 100 Wed 25

Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

HOLLY JOHNSON Wed 25

Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

REGENESIS Wed 25 Oct,

The Robin, Bilston DESTRUCTION + RAZOR + CRISIX + ENFORCER

Wed 25 Oct, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

THE MAGIC OF THE BEE

GEES Wed 25 Oct,

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

KRISTIN HERSH Wed 25

Oct, Foxlowe Arts

Centre, Leek, Staffs

QUILL Wed 25 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

KRISTIN HERSH Thurs 26

Oct, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

ZYGGURAT + ANTHONY

CHILD Thurs 26 Oct, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

EXIST IMMORTAL +

GLASS GRAVE Thurs 26

Oct, Devil’s Dog, Birmingham

THE KINGS OF SPAIN

Thurs 26 Oct, Tilt, Birmingham

NOAHFINNCE + BLACKOUT PROBLEMS

Thurs 26 Oct, O2

Institute, Birmingham

S CLUB Thurs 26 Oct,

Utilita Arena, B’ham

MARK SUMMERS - ELVIS

LEGACY Thurs 26 Oct, Brierley Hill Civic, Dudley

MARTI PELLOW Thurs 26

Oct, Halesowen Town Hall

EXPERIENCE Thurs 26

Oct, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

TOYAH WILLCOX AND ROBERT FRIPP Thurs 26

Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

BURNSWELL + DIRTY

VERTEBRAE Thurs 26

Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

THE STORY OF GUITAR

HEROES Thurs 26 Oct, Crewe Lyceum

CALLING PLANET EARTH

Thurs 26 - Fri 27 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

VENBEE Fri 27 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE DUST CODA + DOOMSDAY OUTLAW + BUNKER 9 Fri 27 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

YOUNG FATHERS Fri 27

Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham

THE REYTONS + THE K’S + DECLAN WELSH + THE DECADENT WEST Fri 27

Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

STONEBWOY Fri 27 Oct, O2 Academy, B’ham

FANGS OUT + BROOKEHORSE +

JOHANNA REY + BLACK

TAPE Fri 27 Oct, The Asylum, Birmingham

BOOTLEG ABBA Fri 27

Oct, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield

UK BJORN - ABBA

THE HUNNA Thurs 26

Oct, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

ROYAL BLOOD + HOTWAX

Thurs 26 Oct, The Civic at The Halls

Wolverhampton

THE SENSATIONAL 60S

TRIBUTE Fri 27 Oct, Brierley Hill Civic, Dudley

FRANKIE’S GUYS - THE MUSIC OF FRANKIE VALLI

Fri 27 Oct, Dudley Town Hall

SCARS + STEAM KITTENS

Fri 27 Oct, Percy’s Cafe

Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

JLS Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Utilita Arena B’ham

SAMANTHA FISH Sat 28

Oct, O2 Institute, B’ham

WE THREE + MORGAN ST.

JEAN Sat 28 Oct, O2

Institute, Birmingham

ELECTRIC CALLBOY + AS

EVERYTHING UNFOLDS +

MONUMENTS Sat 28 Oct,

O2 Academy, B’ham

THE SOUP DRAGONS +

BMX BANDITS Sat 28

Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

BOOTLEG ABBA Sat 28

Oakengates, Shropshire

SILVERCHILD + RAISED BY WOLVES + MORASS OF MOLASSES + WE THE NORTH Sat 28 Oct, Percy’s Cafe Bar, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

BROKEN DRUMSTICK + MY LAST DUTCHESS + SPITWASH + JINXED + REDEMPTION Sun 29 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

CITY AND COLOUR Sun 29 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

NEWTON FAULKNER Sun 29 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

FINNEGANS REVIVAL Fri 27 Oct, Two Gates Club, Tamworth

THE STONES Fri 27 Oct, Cathedral Hotel, Lichfield

A BAND CALLED MALICE

Fri 27 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

MOD N JAM Fri 27 Oct, The Feathers Inn, Lichfield

THE NEIL DIAMOND

STORY Fri 27 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

SHIDA SHAHABI + TINY

LEAVES Fri 27 Oct, St

Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury

FLEETING ROUMOURS Fri 27 Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

SPACE Fri 27 Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

CALL OF THE KRAKEN Fri 27 Oct, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

BIG MUSIC CITY BANDSHANIA & FRIENDS Fri 27 Oct, Telford Theatre, Oakengates, Shropshire

ROXY MAGIC Fri 27 Oct, Theatre On The Steps, Bridgnorth

KATHRYN TICKELL & THE DARKENING Fri 27 Oct, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

LAST TREE SQUAD + ALVIN AND THE ANGRY

BARRELS Fri 27 Oct, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shrops

MONKISH + SPITTING

FEATHERS + THE GENTLE

Oct, The Robin, Bilston

FLEETWOOD MACHINE

Sat 28 Oct, Civic, Stourport

SMOKING PILCHARDS Sat 28 Oct, Katie

Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge

FEAR FACTORY +

BUTCHER BABIES +

IGNEA + GHOSTS OF ATLANTIS Sat 28 Oct,

KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton

SPACE Sat 28 Oct, Newhampton Arts

Centre, Wolverhampton

GABRIELLE Sat 28 Oct,

The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

A TRIBUTE TO THE CARPENTERS Sat 28 Oct, The Wulfrun at The Halls Wolverhampton

THE DEVOUT - DEPECHE

MODE TRIBUTE Sat 28

Oct, Eleven, Stoke-onTrent

CLUB MATRIX Sat 28

Oct, The Quarter at Potbank, Stoke-onTrent

SHARKFEST 4 Sat 28

Oct, The Station, Cannock

UNDERCOVER HEROES

Sat 28 Oct, The

Feathers Inn, Lichfield

THE SENSATIONAL 60S

Sat 28 Oct, Theatre

Severn, Shrewsbury

DOMINO SUGAR Sat 28

Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

VOODOO SIOUX Sat 28

Oct, Albert’s Shed, Southwater, Telford

ELO AGAIN Sat 28 Oct, Telford Theatre,

MAISIE PETERS Sun 29 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

S CLUB Sun 29 Oct, Utilita Arena B’ham

THE HAYLEY GRIFFITHS

BAND Sun 29 Oct, The Robin, Bilston

FRANK SINATRA - THE RETIREMENT CONCERT

Sun 29 Oct,

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

MARTI PELLOW Sun 29 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

SUNDAY ACOUSTIC

LOUNGE Sun 29 Oct, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield

BREABACH Sun 29 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN Sun 29 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

SHREWSBURY SKA & REGGAE FESTIVAL II Sun 29 Oct, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury

SAINT AGNES Mon 30 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE BOO RADLEYS + CUD Tues 31 Oct, O2 Institute, Birmingham

MAISIE PETERS Tues 31 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

WUNDERHORSE + EADES + BASHT. Tues 31 Oct, O2 Academy, B’ham

MCFLY Tues 31 Oct, O2 Academy, Birmingham

FALL OUT BOY + PVRIS + NOTHING, NOWHERE. Tues 31 Oct, Utilita Arena Birmingham

Gabrielle - The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton

thelist

Classical Music

LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH THOMAS TROTTER Programme includes works by Buxtehude, Susato, Byrd, Merkel, Weir & Coates, Mon 23 Oct, Birmingham Town Hall

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE Featuring Volodymyr Sirenko (conductor) & Antonii Baryshevskyi (piano). Programme includes works by Lyatosynsky, Beethoven & Sibelius, Tues 24 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

TIMOTHY RIDOUT: SOLO VIOLA RECITAL Programme includes works by Caroline Shaw, Georg Philipp Telemann, Sally Beamish, György

Kurtág, Benjamin Britten & Johann Sebastian Bach, Wed 25 Oct, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham

Conservatoire

LANG LANG PLAYS THE GOLDBERG

VARIATIONS Fri 27 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

LIVE IN CONCERT Sat 28 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Comedy

TOM LUCY Wed 25 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

ROSS NOBLE Wed 25 Oct, Telford Theatre, Oakengates, Shropshire

JOHN ROBINS Sat 28 Oct, Birmingham

Town Hall

ANGELA BARNES Sat 28 Oct, Old Rep, Birmingham

GARY POWNDLAND AND FRIENDS LIVE!

Sat 28 Oct, Walsall Arena & Arts

Centre

ROSS NOBLE Sun 29 Oct, Crewe

Lyceum

JEN BRISTER Mon 30 Oct, Birmingham

Town Hall

Theatre

FAITH HEALER London Classic Theatre present Brian Friel’s 1979 play about faith healer Francis Hardy. Paul Carroll, Gina Costigan and Jonathan Ashley star, Tues 24 Oct, Arena

Theatre, Wolverhampton

CONSTANT COMPANIONS New Alan Ayckbourn observational comedy, set in a world in which humans turn to artificial friends for ‘companionship without compromise’, Tues 24 OctSat 4 Nov, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

THE GREATEST ROBOT EVER Interactive dance-theatre show exploring the subjects of resilience, friendship & wellbeing, Wed 25 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

FAITH HEALER London Classic Theatre present Brian Friel’s 1979 play about faith healer Francis Hardy. Paul Carroll, Gina Costigan and Jonathan Ashley star, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

LEGALLY BLONDE Amateur version presented by The Phoenix Academy of Film & Theatre Arts, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

CASTING THE RUNES NeuNoir Theatre present MR James’ strange tale of the occult, Sat 28 Oct, Stourbridge Town Hall

DORIAN GRAY Don’t Go Into The Cellar present a one-man version of Oscar Wilde’s fantasy novel, Sun 28 Oct, Tamworth Assembly Rooms

GOLDEN PEARL PIRATES AND THE CURSE OF SKULL ISLAND Join Captain Betty Breakwater (Jimmy Burton-Iles) for ‘fun-filled family adventure on the Seven Seas’, Mon 30 Oct, Halesowen Town Hall

TWELVE ANGRY MEN Hollywood star Patrick Duffy leads the cast in Reginald Rose’s gripping courtroom drama, Mon 30 Oct - Sat 4 Nov, The Alexandra, Birmingham

PETER PAN GOES WRONG Mischief are back with their riotous spin on a timeless classic, Mon 30 Oct - Sat 4 Nov, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

BROWN BOYS SWIM Karim Khan examines the pressures faced by young Muslim men in an ‘exhilarating’ new play about fitting in and striking out, Tues 31 Oct - Sat 4 Nov, The Rep, Birmingham

Comedy from the author of Horrible Histories, Mon 30 Oct, Telford Theatre

THE LITTLE MERMAID A brand-new underwater musical adventure for all the family, Mon 30 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

THE ZOO THAT COMES TO YOU Meet an eclectic group of animals as they discuss their life experiences and the challenges they face in a rapidly changing world dominated by humans, Mon 30 Oct, Glebefields Library, Tipton

HALLOWEEN FAMILY SHOW: THE CANTERVILLE GHOST Original adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s play, especially written for children and young families, Tues 31 Oct, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

THUMBELINA Live music, dance and song combine in a production telling the story of a miniature girl finding her place in the big wide world, Tues 31 Oct, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

THE SINGING MERMAID Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks’ enchanting children’s story is brought to life using puppetry, music and song, Tues 31 Oct - Wed 1 Nov, Lichfield Garrick

MINIATURE TRAVELLING CIRCUS

Puppetry and magic combine in Little Angel Theatre’s production for younger audiences, Tues 31 OctThurs 2 Nov, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent

SARAH MILLICAN Wed 25 Oct, Theatre

Severn, Shrewsbury

DAN HAGLEY Wed 25 - Thurs 26 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY

ROBINSON, STEVE WILLIAMS & PAUL

MCCAFFREY Thurs 26 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

SEAN COLLINS Thurs 26 Oct, The

Robin, Bilston

TOM DAVIS Thurs 26 Oct,

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

NABIL ABDULRASHID Thurs 26 Oct,

Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

THOMAS GREEN Fri 27 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

COMEDY IN THE MET Fri 27 Oct,

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

JUDI LOVE Fri 27 Oct, Wolverhampton

Grand Theatre

JOSH PUGH, MARTIN MÓR, STEVE

WILLIAMS & PAUL MCCAFFREY Fri 27Sat 28 Oct, The Glee Club, Birmingham

HALF WAY ‘ROUND THE BEND An ‘unflinchingly honest and cheerfully anarchic fusion of contemporary writing and stand-up comedy that explores ‘what it really means to live, work and thrive with mental illness’, Wed 25 - Thurs 26 Oct, The Rep, Birmingham

THE GOOD ENOUGH MUMS CLUB A poignant new musical telling the story of five women drawn together by motherhood, Wed 25 - Sat 28 Oct, Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Amateur version presented by Manor Musical Theatre, Wed 25 - Sat 28 Oct, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall

A BUNCH OF AMATEURS Tower Players present an amateur version of Ian Hislop & Nick Newman’s heartwarming comedy, Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Oct, Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock

HELLO DOLLY! Amateur version of the much-loved musical, Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Oct, The Little Theatre, Donnington, Shropshire

THE REAL AND IMAGINED HISTORY OF

FRANKENSTEIN Stafford Players present an amateur version of Mary Shelley’s classic tale, Tues 31 OctSat 4 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

CALAMITY JANE Amateur version presented by Cradley Heath Amateur Operatic Society (CHAOS), Tues 31 Oct - Sat 4 Nov, Stourbridge Town Hall

THE BOX OF DELIGHTS The RSC’s festive family show follows an orphaned schoolboy who finds himself the guardian of a small wooden box with powers beyond his wildest dreams, Tues 31 Oct - Sun 7 Jan, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Kids Theatre

THE SOOTY SHOW Audience participation and giggles aplenty are the order of the day in this celebration of children’s television’s longest-running show, Fri 27 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

THE AMAZING BUBBLE MAN Children’s show in which Louis Pearl showcases the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles, Sat 28 Oct, Lichfield Garrick TERRY DEARY’S TWISTED TALES

Dance

VINCENT SIMONE: TANGO PASSIONS Journey to Buenos Aires with the ‘Italian stallion’ and his leading lady, Paula Duarte, Mon 23 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

THE NUTCRACKER Presented by Crowne Ballet, Wed 25 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

KALKI DANCE Indian dance and a poignant narrative combine, Fri 27 Oct, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

JAIVANT PATEL COMPANY: WALTZING THE BLUE GODS A part auto-biographical and part fantasy production exploring Kathak dance in the context of a contemporary Britain that’s proud of its LGBTQI+ narratives, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

Light Entertainment

MOST HAUNTED THE STAGE SHOW

Hosted by Yvette Fielding and featuring the TV show’s all-time top10 scares, complete with previously unseen video footage, Mon 23 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

THE PUNDITS An evening with football pundits Jeff Stelling, Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson & Charlie Nicholas, Tues 24 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

KIN - BARELY METHODICAL TROUPE The ‘UK’s hottest circus company’ perform their five-star hit show, Tues 24 Oct, Lichfield Garrick

SPONTANEOUS POTTER An entirely improvised comedy play, based on an audience suggestion of a fan fiction title, Tues 24 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

TAILENDERS The award-winning podcast team (Greg James, Felix White and Jimmy Anderson) take to the road with their alternative (and sometimes musical) look at cricket, Thurs 26 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

QUEENZ: THE SHOW WITH BALLS Live vocal drag extravaganza featuring over 30 camp classics, Thurs 26 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

AN EVENING OF MEDIUMSHIP WITH CRAIG MORRIS Fri 27 Oct, Halesowen Town Hall

REVEREND RICHARD COLES:

BORDERLINE NATIONAL TRINKET The only British vicar to have had a number-one hit single lifts the lid on a life ‘truly and truthfully lived’, Fri 27 Oct, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham

BUFFY REVAMPED Seventy minutes. Seven seasons. One Spike, Sat 28 Oct, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

FASCINATING AIDA Brand-new show from ‘Britain’s raciest and sassiest musical cabaret trio’, Sat 28 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

HAUNTINGS Tales of the supernatural from two of the world’s greatest writers of ghost stories - EF Benson and MR James, Sat 28 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

SASHA VELOUR: THE BIG REVEAL LIVE SHOW An immersive evening of drag, storytelling and live art, Tues 31 Oct, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Talks & Spoken

Word

BILLY BILLINGHAM MBE: ALWAYS A LITTLE FURTHER Spend an evening with the decorated SAS leader as he shares his inspirational story, Mon 23

Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

LOST PIONEERS Andy Sloane shares the history of Wolverhampton’s Victorian Jewish Community, Wed 25 Oct, Bilston Town Hall

THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER Join Scottish detective David Swindle as he shares a unique insight into the minds of some of Britain’s notorious serial killers, Sat 28 Oct, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

SIR RANULPH FIENNES: MAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW An evening in the company of the world’s greatest living explorer, Mon 30 Oct, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Events

VICTORIAN PRINTERS EXPERIENCE DAY

Experience the life of a Victorian printer, Wed 25 Oct, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN LANTERN

DECORATING Take along your creative spirit and get ready to decorate your very own glass jam jar for Halloween, Thurs 26 Oct, Stourbridge Glass

Museum

ELVIS LIVE ON SCREEN Full-scale concert featuring Elvis on screen while the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra perform some of his bestknown songs live on stage, Fri 27 Oct, Resorts World Arena, Birmingham

GHOST HUNT Into-the-early-hours, allaccess investigation of the venue, Fri 27 Oct, Crewe Lyceum Theatre

GHOSTS AT THE LOCK UP A night of ghost stories and spooky tales, Fri 27 Oct, West Midlands Police Museum, Birmingham

VICTORIAN GHOST TOWN Try candle dipping and poster printing, shop for handmade Halloween items and meet reptiles at the Spooky Zoo, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Oct, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

SPOOKY ISLAND A spooky experience ‘speckled with small frights for older children and not-so-brave adults’, Fri 27 - Sun 29 Oct, Alderford Lake, Shropshire

HALLOWEEN DRIVE-IN CINEMA Enjoy a screening of a spooktacular film from the comfort of your own car, Fri 27Sun 29 Oct, Alderford Lake, Shropshire

THE MONSTER MASH BALL Set sail on a narrowboat to join Krazy Kris and his Groovy UV gang, Fri 27 - Tues 31

Oct, Dudley Canal and Caverns

SPOOKS & SLIDE Ice-skating experience with ‘a spooktacular twist’, Fri 27 Oct - Wed 1 Nov, SnowDome, Tamworth

TREATS & CHILLS The Wicked Witch of the North has cast a spell over the snow funpark this Halloween... Fri 27

Oct - Wed 1 Nov, SnowDome, Tamworth

EXPLORE ASTON HALL Immerse yourself in 400 years of history in the Jacobean mansion, Sat 28 Oct, Aston Hall, Birmingham

THE MONSTER BALL HALLOWEEN PARTY

An evening of ‘wickedly good fun and live entertainment’, Sat 28 Oct, West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

STARGAZING EVENING Learn how to use a telescope to understand the constellations, Sat 28 Oct, Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Cosford

APLEY HALLOWEEN FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Evening of dazzling and dramatic fireworks set to Halloween music, Sat 28 Oct, Apley Farm Shop, Shropshire

BONFIRE AND FIREWORK DISPLAY A firework display alongside a full bar, catering and family entertainment, Sat 28 Oct, Shropshire Hills

Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, South Shropshire

CHRISTMAS GIFT FAYRE A great place to start your Christmas shopping, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Oct, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

SCREAM TRAINS Hold on tight as the train passes through haunted stations on the way to Arley, Sat 28Tues 31 Oct, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

GHOST TRAINS Take a thrilling ride in the dark through haunted stations, Sat 28 - Tues 31 Oct, Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, Nr Kidderminster

PUMPKINS & ALPACAS Choose from over 5,000 pumpkins before meeting the Wetley Moor alpacas, Sat 28Tues 31 Oct, Tunstall Farm Park, Staffordshire

THE HAUNTED MANOR Featuring scare attractions, live entertainment and rides after dark, Sat 28 - Tues 31 Oct, Drayton Manor Resort, Tamworth

HALLOWEEN NIGHTS Enjoy street entertainment and a night of trick or treats around the historic shops and houses, Sat 28 - Tues 31 Oct, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

SPOOKTACULAR Featuring a selection of Halloween activities, Sat 28 OctFri 3 Nov, National Forest Adventure Farm, Staffordshire

HALLOWEEN HALF-TERM AT STOKESAY

CASTLE Gather round for tales from spooky storytellers, and solve creepy clues in the Halloween Quest, Sat 28 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, Stokesay Castle, South Shropshire

HALLOWEEN HARVEST Pull on your wellies to hear the scarecrow story, then follow the trail to find the Apley scarecrows, Sat 28 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, Apley Farm Shop, Shropshire

BOTANICAL BEASTS AND MYTHICAL CREATURES Meet witches & wizards who’ve stepped out of storybooks, Sat 28 Oct - Sun 5 Nov, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

JET AND SPACE WEEK A whole week of activities exploring space, jets and the future of the RAF, Sat 28 OctSun 5 Nov, Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Cosford

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKE-UP MASTERCLASS Learn how to create wounds, zombie make-up and other effects, Mon 30 Oct, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

SHADOW PUPPETS WORKSHOP Create your own shadow puppet before trying it out on the big screen, Mon 30 Oct, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent

CARTOON CIRCUS LIVE! Laughterpacked stage show combining the comedy of pantomime with the thrill of the circus, Mon 30 Oct, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

FRIGHT AT THE MUSEUM FAMILY SHOW Prepare for a ‘monstrous’ show featuring freaky facts and spooky science, Mon 30 Oct - Fri 3 Nov, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

HALLOWEEN TRAIL AND CRAFT Follow the ghosts as you explore the ruins before getting stuck into a craft activity, Tues 31 Oct, Weoley Castle, Birmingham

Cartoon Circus Live - The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury

Enter now at

be

with a chance of bagging one of these fabulous prizes!

A pair of tickets to see Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Mischief return to the region this month with their riotous spin on a timeless classic - West End smash hit Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

The show visits Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Monday 30 October - Saturday 4 November and we have a pair of tickets to give away for the 7.30pm performance on the opening night.

Competition closes Friday 20 October

A pair of tickets to see The Box Of Delights

The RSC’s ‘magically festive’ production of The Box Of Delights is sure to enchant families this winter with performances running at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Tuesday 31 October to Sunday 7 January.

We’ve joined with the RSC to offer readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the afternoon performance on Saturday 18 November.

Competition closes Monday 6 November